France risks missing the central road safety target in Europe, set for 2030. Within five years, Brussels is counting on EU member states to halve the number of road deaths and serious injuries. The situation is not looking good for mainland France and its overseas departments, as the figures have not decreased significantly for the past 10 years. Between 2023 and 2024, the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory (ONISR) even notes a 1% increase.
The number of victims in 2024 has been estimated by the ONISR at 3,432 victims, 26 more than in 2023, according to a report published on May 28. Compared to 2019, the decrease represents only 2.9%. Nothing very radical in five years, despite the renewal of the vehicle fleet and the arrival of more advanced technologies for active and passive protection. The main causes of accidents, however, show that humans remain at the center of the problems, with 29% of cases involving excessive or inappropriate speed, alcohol (22%), inattention, which could be attributed to using a mobile phone while driving (14%), followed by drugs (13%).
Lack of seatbelts and the widespread use of SUVs
Overseas, the ONISR warned that more than half of road traffic victims were not wearing their seatbelts. Another notable fact is that 48% of road traffic victims were in cars, and the number of pedestrians killed is up 4% year-on-year, or 456 victims. This trend can be attributed to the widespread use of SUVs on the roads, which are increasingly being criticized for their increased risk in the event of a collision, due to their much higher beltline than traditional sedans and city cars. A London study recently estimated that the probability of a pedestrian or cyclist dying increased by 44% if the collision involved an SUV.
The break of 3,000 deaths seems to be a burden for France, which reached the 3,000 victim mark as early as 2010. Only the years 2020 and 2021 saw significant decreases, with 2,541 and 2,944 deaths respectively. Obviously, the decrease was only a consequence of the slowdown in traffic with the various lockdowns. It would seem that the answer to European objectives can only come from technological breakthroughs: with the democratization of cameras on board cars, new devices could arrive, such as the fact that you cannot start your car without having fastened your seatbelt.
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