Road safety – Road mortality increases in 2015: the State persists and signs …

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Road mortality increases in 2015: the State persists and signs …

Road safety - Road mortality increases in 2015: the State persists and signs ...

The provisional road accident report for 2015 shows a 2.4% increase in mortality. A tragic but inevitable situation following the almost continuous increase observed each month (+ 7.7% in December). And just as predictably, the government refuses to recognize the failure of its policy …

The provisional road accident report for 2015 shows a 2.4% increase in mortality. A tragic but inevitable situation following the almost continuous increase observed (+ 7.7% in December). And just as predictably, the government refuses to recognize the failure of its purely repressive policy..

No more fatal accidents? Quick, new radars !

Unsurprisingly – alas … – the number of people who died in road accidents grew by 2.4% in 2015, the provisional total reaching 3,464 deaths. A sudden increase, a large part of which has its source in the murderous accident in Puisseguin: of the 80 additional deaths in 2015, 43 were passengers on the bus.

Road accidents: provisional figures 2015

  • 3,464 deaths on the roads (+ 2.4% Vs 2014)
  • +2.5% of traffic on roads and highways over the first 3 quarters
  • 80 more deaths compared to 2014
  • 56,109 bodily accidents (-3.6%)
  • 70,442 injured (-3.6%)
  • 26,143 hospital admissions (-1.8%)
  • 308 deaths in December 2015 (+7.7)
  • +8% fatalities for motorists
  • -1% death for bikers
  • -10% fatalities for mopeds
  • -7% fatalities for pedestrians
  • +7% of deaths for 18-24 year olds
  • +9% of deaths for people over 65
  • 25% of fatal accidents are linked to speed
  • + 1 to 4 km / h observed average speeds, depending on the network
  • 30% of fatal accidents with alcohol (vs. 28% in 2014)
  • 25% of fatal accidents with narcotics (vs. 22% in 2014)
  • 21% of those killed did not wear their seatbelt in their car (27% for commercial vehicles and 37% for heavy goods vehicles!)

Warning : These data are estimates issued by the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory (ONISR), which may increase or decrease. The final report will be published in 2016 (generally around the month of May).

Far from the government’s ambitious targets of 2,000 deaths by 2020, this new increase marks above all the second consecutive year of increase in road fatalities in France, which has not happened for … 35 years (read our box opposite).

Where this sad observation highlights the bitter failure of the purely repressive policy in terms of security annuitant On the contrary, the State is relieved of responsibility by accusing drivers of slacking off (one wonders how, given the proliferation of speed cameras). This relaxation deemed "unacceptable and irresponsible" by the Minister of the Interior would result in an increase in average speeds of 1 to 4 km / h…

"There are therefore fewer accidents (-3.6%; Editor’s note) but more deaths", continues Bernard Cazeneuve. "This means that there is less sense of responsibility on the part of motorists. Also collective responsibility should encourage us, all with one voice, to say: the State is taking precautions, it is increasing the checks, but nothing can replace individual responsibility ".

cash flashes will or will not be installed in the cabin: trapped, not trapped? That will be the question !

Road deaths 2015: the reaction of the FFMC

"At the French Federation of Angry Bikers (FFMC), we who are really in traffic, we note that the use of on-board distractors (telephone, GPS, screens, etc.) and the non-use of mirrors and indicators are dangers that should be communicated, "commented the association in reaction to the announcement of 2015 road mortality figures.

"But as these" oversights "cannot be exploited by the cash machines of the automated sanction-control, prevention is still relegated to the background", continues the FFMC before ironing, specifying that "as far as we are concerned , the interministerial delegate is very happy to announce the wearing of compulsory gloves and a future control of conformity to the resale of a motorized two-wheeler, which is more a matter of consumer protection than of safety itself. look convinced it’s going to save lives "…

Surprisingly, the fact that fatal accidents linked to alcohol or drug consumption are on the increase (by + 2% and + 3% respectively) is, on the other hand, much less commented on….

Unlike its fierce fight against speed, the State does not provide for any radical measures against driving with alcohol or under the influence of drugs, despite their weight in fatal accidents (respectively 30% and 25% in 2015).

Anyone who regularly takes French roads can notice it: speed checks are much more frequent than those aimed at detecting unacceptable consumption of alcohol, drugs or medication. And when they are carried out, these checks are almost always concentrated around places where young people gather (nightclubs, festivals, etc.).

Older drivers, on the other hand, can calmly return home after whistling a half-bottle of Bordeaux during the traditional Sunday "leg and beans" at mother-in-law, as can dynamic executives who are rarely worried about the little "pick-up". snorted before climbing into their company sedan !

"Without a fine, there is less firmness and speeding will increase"

Questioned by, Bernard Cazeneuve also reaffirmed his clear disagreement with the, judging that "without fines, there is less firmness, and speeding will increase". And he literally enraged when the question of the management of colossal radar revenues (658 million euros in 2015) was raised, of which only "30%" would be allocated to road maintenance according to a . 

Assuring that these revenues would represent a "derisory sum" compared to the cost of road insecurity, the minister assures us that "road accidents cost French society 50 billion euros each year. Salaries and equipment for workers forces for road safety amount to 3.5 billion: this is a false reasoning ", he concludes.

"We must put an end to this argument which only serves to justify those who want to continue to be alone on the road, without taking into account those they meet", storms Bernard Cazeneuve in a burst of accusation worthy of Chantal Perichon , the president of the League against road violence !

This "false reasoning" hides another, concrete and observable by all: it is the State itself which places more and more police and gendarmes at the side of the roads, thus exploding its financing needs. This policy of "1 cop or one radar per driver" is now such that it is planned to entrust "t" with unmarked cars equipped with on-board radars (around 260 currently in France).

Sad irony: the police are no longer in sufficient number to track down the nasty drivers, so the government – said to be left – must subcontract to private companies! And the anger to growl at the thought of the inevitable repercussions of this (over) deployment around the roads in terms of the safety of citizens in the street, an area that is at least sensitive after the terrible attacks of November 13…

Biker mortality down 1% in 2015

Good news for bikers: this is one of the rare categories of road users to see its fatal accident rate slightly drop (-1% compared to 2014 and even -2% Vs 2013) with 619 registered deaths. To be compared with the 8% increase in motorist mortality (+ 12% compared to 2013), the total of which reached 1,789 deaths with these 135 additional deaths.

Unfortunately, these data, however pleasing, have absolutely no positive impact on the government’s policy on bikers and scooter riders. On the contrary !

Not only is the retrofit on non-Euro4 motorcycles still not granted, but a decree currently being validated will very soon impose the passage of the A2 license to all candidates for a motorcycle license, regardless of their age (read ) … To follow closely on MNC: stay tuned !

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