It is written in advance: next November, there will be even more accidents involving pedestrians.
This fatal finding, which is made year after year, is linked to the time change.
It is this weekend, in the night from Saturday to Sunday, that the country will switch to winter time.
The effects of the night that falls earlier are inevitable each time.
There is an explosion of accidents involving a pedestrian: + 42% in November compared to October, according to the National Interministerial Observatory for Road Safety.
The most critical times of day are between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. but also in the morning hours from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
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Pedestrians are not the only ones to be more exposed: we must not forget that 21% of cyclists killed or injured are at night, recalls Marie Gautier-Melleray, interministerial delegate for road safety.
Road Safety, which took an interest in the subject, questioned motorists through a survey.
As a result, their concerns increase as visibility decreases.
“More than two out of five motorists say they feel in danger when driving in the evening or at nightfall
,
”
indicates Road Safety in its press release.
When asked about the reasons for this danger, these drivers
“first of all mention the presence of road users who are not sufficiently visible (53%), then grazing light (47%) and finally reduced brightness (45%)”
.
Curfew increases danger
However, despite their fears, these motorists do not adapt their driving.
Few of them go slower.
This is what emerges from the analysis of the behavior of 1,473 drivers who have agreed to be monitored when they drive at nightfall through applications installed in their vehicles.
All this data now joins the Observatory of road risks and mobility, set up two years ago by the Road Safety Authority.
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However, with the curfew, the risk of seeing a greater number of accidents this year among vulnerable users is real, as explained Nathalie Irisson, general secretary of the association Insurance prevention.
“Since you have to get home at 9 pm, there are many more people on the roads at the same time.
Pedestrians, scooters, two-wheelers and cars share the same space after dark, ”
she says, calling more than ever for everyone's vigilance.