2018 was the least deadly year ever recorded on the roads. With ten more deaths and 3,498 people killed, 2019 will not dethrone it, but it will mark a marked stabilization in road mortality in France, according to a final report released on Tuesday.
The very slight drop in mortality on roads in mainland France (3,244 deaths, -0.1%) is in fact offset by the increase in deaths in Overseas France (254 deaths, + 5.8%). The other indicators, such as the number of people injured and the number of bodily accidents, are up slightly in mainland France.
"The analysis of accident factors confirms the role of excessive or unsuitable speed as the primary cause of fatal accidents," emphasizes Road Safety.
The effects of the transition to 80 km / h
The year 2019 was notably marked by a drop in mortality outside the built-up area and outside the motorways, with 72 lives saved (-4%), especially among motorists (-24 killed), bikers (-20) and pedestrians ( -19). "90% of this network is made up of roads on which the maximum authorized speed was lowered to 80 km / h on July 1, 2018," said the organization.
This measure, unpopular with the elected officials of certain municipalities and conspired by the Yellow Vests, may be subject to derogations since the end of December and the promulgation of the mobility law.
PODCAST. 80 km / h: the measurement is necessary to wear
Since the beginning of the year, several departments such as Creuse, Cantal and this Tuesday Loir-et-Cher, have also started to return to 90 km / h.
A significant drop in mortality in Île-de-France
In urban areas, mortality increased by 8% compared to 2018 (+ 74 killed), first affecting bikers (+ 27) and pedestrians (+ 22). Motorways, where mortality has dropped by 55% since 2000, experienced fewer deaths in 2019 than in 2018 (-2%).
Newsletter - The essentials of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
According to the regions, the realities are very contrasted with a strong increase in road mortality in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes (+ 16.8%) and a significant decrease in Île-de-France (-13.3%).