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Road safety: with the pandemic, the driving behavior of the French has softened

2021-04-05T17:34:35.110Z


EXCLUSIVE. According to the latest Axa Prévention barometer that we unveil, the Covid-19 crisis has had a positive effect on driving in France


Nice efforts, but there is still room for improvement.

The transcript of the 17th Axa Prévention barometer on French driving behavior, the results of which we are publishing in preview, is encouraging.

Motorists are more careful and more concerned about other road users than before the epidemic and lockdowns.

A first to welcome since the annual publication of this indicator.

We drive a little slower than before: 74% of drivers allow themselves, on average, to exceed 10 or 20 km / h above the authorized speed, regardless of the type of roads taken, against 81% in 2019, a decrease of 7 points.

In town in particular, 27% of them say they drive at 65 km / h on average (-3 points), the lowest rate recorded by the barometer in seventeen years of existence.

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The trend is similar for traffic lights: even though 65% still do not stop at an amber light, motorists are more careful, since they were 71% to do so before the crisis (-6 points ).

Changing direction or passing another vehicle is also done a little more in compliance with the rules: 34% of motorists still fail to signal themselves with their indicators, compared to 41% in 2019 (-7 points).

“The health crisis we are all experiencing has clearly had positive effects on our bad driving habits, analyzes Eric Lemaire, president of the Axa Prévention association.

We are more attentive to others, because this virus affects us collectively, and this preventive health attitude is reflected in our way of reacting on the road.

We are stepping out of the bubble of the secure cabin of our cars, paying more attention to the safety of others in a form of interdependence that benefits everyone.

We must be delighted!

"

The smartphone “drama” at the wheel

However, this honor roll should be moderated because of two behaviors that mar a trend that is as novel as it is positive.

The first has been going on for a few years and seems very difficult to contain.

"The smartphone is a scourge, since 69% of motorists continue to use it while driving," continues Eric Lemaire.

We are faced with the problem of dependence on a device that it is very difficult for us to keep at bay.

Before, we used to phone.

Now, as soon as they hear the slightest beep, more and more drivers can not help but glance at their screen, which has become the most widely used way to be guided by GPS.

They type text messages, monitor social networks… It's a real tragedy.

"

The other concern, according to the figures of the study, comes from the drivers of electric scooters, owners or followers of self-service, little aware of the Highway Code.

“They take all the risks, whether it's using their phones with one hand and holding the handlebars with the other, or riding more than other road users under the influence of alcohol or drugs, denounces Eric Lemaire.

This time around, the health crisis, by accelerating the adoption of so-called

gentler

modes of travel

, reinforces road insecurity.

"

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Half of those who use them for driving drive after having had more than 2 glasses of alcoholic beverage, i.e. twice as many as among motorists and 45% take the handlebars after consuming narcotics (cannabis or others), against 2% motorists.

"This behavior is observed in particular among young city dwellers," observes Eric Lemaire, who think they can come home "quietly" from the evening without risking being checked.

"We know, the epidemic is not all good ...

Methodology:

study by the Kantar Institute for Axa Prévention, carried out from January 6 to February 6, 2020 with a sample of 2,196 people then from November 4 to November 18, 2020 with a sample of 2,161 people, representative of the resident population in mainland France aged 18 to 75.

Source: leparis

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