French road deaths down 11% in 2013, compared to previous year

The number of road deaths in France last year fell by 11% to 3,250, 403 fewer than in 2012. Revealing the figures, Minister of the Interior Manuel Valls said they were the lowest number since the first national road death statistics were recorded in 1948. Deaths of 18-24 year olds on French roads during 2013 were down 10% year-on-year, with road deaths of car occupants down 14%. Deaths of cyclists on French roads were down 8%, pedestrian road deaths fell by 7% and 3% fewer motorcyclists were killed on the
January 22, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
The number of road deaths in France last year fell by 11% to 3,250, 403 fewer than in 2012.

Revealing the figures, Minister of the Interior Manuel Valls said they were the lowest number since the first national road death statistics were recorded in 1948. Deaths of 18-24 year olds on French roads during 2013 were down 10% year-on-year, with road deaths of car occupants down 14%. Deaths of cyclists on French roads were down 8%, pedestrian road deaths fell by 7% and 3% fewer motorcyclists were killed on the roads. The two main causes of deadly accidents were speed (25%) and alcohol (20%).

For the Automobile Club Association, this decrease is due to good driver behaviour. Minister Valls wants efforts to encourage good driver behaviour to continue so that less than 2,000 people die on roads by 2020. He did not announce new measures but promised to continue communication campaigns notably aimed at young people and to update radars. Finally, he sent back decisions to an inter-ministerial committee on road safety that will be held in mid-2014. The Road Prevention Association wants measures on speed, alcohol and telephoning while driving and information for motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists.
Highway & Network Management

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