"A worrying dynamic": inattention was, in 2019, the cause of one fatal accident on the motorway in five, a share which has almost doubled in two years, according to the annual report of the Association of French companies of highways (ASFA) published Friday, start of a weekend of great departures on vacation.
Despite tragedies such as the accident on the A7 which claimed the lives of five children on Monday evening, motorways remain by far the safest road network: out of 3,244 road victims in mainland France last year, according to Road Safety, 154 people died on conceded motorways (three less than in 2018) according to figures from ASFA, which brings together the private concessionaires managing 9,180 of the 12,000 kilometers of French motorways.
That is 1.49 fatal accidents per billion kilometers traveled (1.55 in 2018), a rate more than halved since 2000.
Inattention more dangerous than speed
Some 20% of fatal accidents were caused by inattention which becomes the third factor behind alcohol, drugs and medication on the one hand (21%), drowsiness and fatigue on the other hand (21%), but now ahead of excessive speed (16%).
Above all, this figure has been steadily increasing for two years (11.3% in 2017, 13.6% in 2018) and "what is especially boring, among the youngest" explains to AFP Christophe Boutin, general delegate of ASFA. "This is a worrying dynamic and a factor that we fear will become even more important in the future," he adds.
While they only represent 17% of motorway drivers, those under 35 are responsible for 35% of fatal accidents due to inattention, and the cause of 28% of all fatal accidents.
