The French authorities continue to drive down road deaths

The latest data available from France reveals a continuing reduction in road safety fatalities. The Ministry of the Interior has produced figures showing that road fatalities dropped 8% to 3,645 in 2012, when compared with 2011. Notable reductions were seen in deaths of motorcyclists, down 14.5% and car drivers, down 8.6%. However deaths of cyclists bucked the overall improving trend for French road safety by rising 10%, according to the French Federation of Bicycle Users. Further analysis of the crash data
March 6, 2013 Read time: 1 min
The latest data available from France reveals a continuing reduction in road safety fatalities. The Ministry of the Interior has produced figures showing that road fatalities dropped 8% to 3,645 in 2012, when compared with 2011. Notable reductions were seen in deaths of motorcyclists, down 14.5% and car drivers, down 8.6%. However deaths of cyclists bucked the overall improving trend for French road safety by rising 10%, according to the French Federation of Bicycle Users.

Further analysis of the crash data will be required to determine why French motorcyclist and car driver deaths have been reduced while cyclist fatalities have increased.

Related Content

  • Drink driving drop for France and UK
    August 12, 2013
    The latest data from France and the UK reveals a stunning long term drop in deaths from drink driving since the 1970s. This highlights the effectiveness of campaigns to tackle drink driving in both countries. In France some 18,000 people were killed on the roads in 1972, compared with 3,645 in 2012. The French Government intends to continue this road safety policy and intends to lower the annual fatality rate to 2,000 by 2020. There is a financial benefit to the economy from improving road safety. According
    Read More
  • Road safety improving, but vulnerable road users need protection
    January 11, 2013
    Preliminary data from France over the number of fatalities on the road network reveal safety improvements during 2012. The numbers killed dropped by 7-8%, although the final figures for December are not yet available. The preliminary figures suggest that around 3,600-3,700 were killed on French roads in 2012, compared with 3,970 in 2011. This reduction is in line with targets on cutting the death rate and Ministry of the Interior wants to bring the fatality rate to just 2,000 by 2020. This reduction has bee
    Read More
  • Improving road safety in France and UK
    May 1, 2012
    The latest official data shows a continuing improvement in road safety statistics in both France and the UK. However the data also reveals worrying trends in accidents concerning vulnerable road users.
    Read More
  • Measures needed to increase awareness of cyclists
    May 4, 2012
    The latest official data shows a continuing improvement in road safety statistics in both France and the UK. However the data also reveals worrying trends in accidents concerning vulnerable road users. Department for Transport figures for 2010 have revealed a 17% drop in road fatalities to 1,850. But 111 pedal cyclists died in 2010, compared with 104 in 2009, with cyclist fatalities in capital London of particular concern. The DfT believes that the severe winter weather, lower traffic in general due to th
    Read More

Highlighted Content