Car Fule

The verdict is in. Road Safety has just published the final road accident figures for the year 2020. And not surprisingly, with the various containment measures and traffic restrictions taken last year, the number of killed and injured on the roads of France has fallen.

Figures to put into perspective

According to the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory (ONISR), 2,780 people lost their lives on the roads of France (in metropolitan France and overseas) in 2020, it is 21% less than in 2019.

For Marie Gautier-Melleray, Interministerial Delegate for Road Safety: “The exceptional nature of this decrease is to put into perspective due to the context of the health crisis resulting in travel restriction measures which had massive effects on road traffic ”.

Speed ​​and alcohol remain the leading causes of death

In detail, in metropolitan France, 2,541 people lost their lives on the roads in 2020, i.e. 703 fewer deaths than in 2019, down 22%. 78% of these deaths involved men. In the Overseas Territories, 239 people were killed in 2020, or -6% compared to 2019. The excessive or inappropriate speed and blood alcohol level remain the primary causes of fatal accidents.

Fewer fatalities, but also fewer injuries

Logically, all the other indicators of road accidents are also in decline. For example, the number of bodily accidents recorded by the police fell by 19% to 45,121 accidents. At the same time, the number of people injured has fallen by 21% at 55.836.

Sharp drop for motor vehicles and the elderly

Road Safety explains that “the decrease in mortality is particularly important for motor vehicles“. “Users of so-called“ soft ”modes of travel (personal mobility device such as a scooter, motorized or not, cycling, walking) have benefited less. », Specifies the organization since in times of health crisis many users favored these modes of transport. Motorist mortality thus appears to be down 23%, against only 5% for cyclists.

By category of user, it is people aged 75 or over, particularly affected by the health crisis, who have benefited the most from this reduction in road fatalities: – 34%, which represents 180 fewer deaths than in 2019.

Decrease in fatalities more marked on the motorway

Finally Yes the decrease in mortality affected all road networks, it was however less marked in built-up areas, and more marked on the motorway, proximity trips having been more maintained.

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