France: Drowsiness, fatigue leading cause of deaths on motorways

Drowsiness and fatigue were the cause of 33% of deaths on motorways in 2012, according to an Asfa (Association of French Motorway Companies) study. Alcohol, drugs and medications were in second place (21%), in front of excessive speed (13%). The study also revealed that lack of sleep, driving at night, taking certain medications and suffering from sleep apnoea or snoring increase the risk of deadly accidents on motorways. Some professionals say that monotony on roads and reduced speeds are also factors tha
August 6, 2013 Read time: 1 min
Increased enforcement can help reduce road crash rates
Drowsiness and fatigue were the cause of 33% of deaths on motorways in 2012, according to an 7440 ASFA (Association of French Motorway Companies) study.  Alcohol, drugs and medications were in second place (21%), in front of excessive speed (13%).

The study also revealed that lack of sleep, driving at night, taking certain medications and suffering from sleep apnoea or snoring increase the risk of deadly accidents on motorways. Some professionals say that monotony on roads and reduced speeds are also factors that reduce vigilance. The study’s author underlines that on the motorway network, where the average speed is 127km/h, there are less deaths than on other roads in France.
Highway & Network Management

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Family fun
    December 13, 2012
    A British mother and daughter both lost their driving licences after French police decided the pair were rather too enthusastic about driving at high speeds. The French police were monitoring traffic along a stretch of the A7 Autoroute when two cars roared past at 180km/h. One car, a Ferarri 599 GTB was driven by the mother while the other car, an Aston Martin, was driven by the daughter. Both women had their licenses taken away immediately by traffic officers and the speed-crazed pair were also given on-th
    Read More
  • 2012 was record road death low in most OECD-IRTAD countries, says report
    May 23, 2013
    The year 2012 is said to have seen the lowest road deaths on record within most OECD (Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development) and IRTAD (International Traffic Safety Data and Analysis Group) countries. However, the IRTAD Annual Road Safety Report 2013, published yesterday by the International Transport Forum at the OECD, also claims road safety performance in terms of fatalities per 100,000 of population varies considerably among OECD-IRTAD countries. The difference between the best and the w
    Read More
  • UK road maintenance budgets further stretched, says ALARM survey
    March 25, 2020
    Indications last year of an improving condition for the UK’s road maintenance have not been sustained, according to a new survey.
    Read More
  • Pay attention to The Ray, urges WheelRight’s John Catling
    July 17, 2017
    Development of the connected and sustainable highways is moving quickly in the US and the Far East but progress in Europe is much less impressive. One example of a connected highway that offers an interesting model for European transport planners and policymakers is The Ray, a 29km stretch of Interstate 85 in the state of Georgia. Originally established by a charitable foundation, The Ray offers an inspiring vision of a sustainable highway, even for the near future. Drivers crossing the state line from Ala
    Read More

Highlighted Content