Road safety – Target less than 5,000 deaths –

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Objective of less than 5,000 deaths

Road safety - Target less than 5,000 deaths -

Gilles de Robien welcomed the drop this morning historical of the number of road deaths last year and for the first time risked quantifying a 2004 target: less than 5,000 deaths. But the motorcycle remains in the hot seat. Balance sheet.

"There is no limit to the drop in the number of killed"said Minister of Transport Gilles de Robien this morning, presenting the final accident report for 2003, marked by a drop"historical"the number of road fatalities (-20.9%), serious injuries (-20.3%), minor injuries (-15%) and bodily accidents (-14.5%)."I cannot thank our fellow citizens enough for this historic decline in 2003, because the success of our policy depends on the general support of the French.", underlined the minister…

About automatic radars, which blindly monitored "100 million drivers per month since February"for 0.2% of infringers, and whose first installment of the second wave of 450 is due to start next month (read our), Gilles de Robien explained that it was necessary"continuously demonstrate that our action is based on equity (sic!). This is why I fully support the Prime Minister’s initiative, because the sanction must be adapted to the fault". In short: an exceeding of less than 20 km / h of the maximum speed is now worth 45 euros instead of 90, while an excess of more than 50 km / h becomes an offense punishable by the courts from the first offense.

Detailing the results by vehicle category, the secretary general of the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory (ONISR), Jean Chapelon, deplored the "motorcycles delay"and the still high number of motorized two-wheeler accidents. Thus compared to Germany, where there are 64.3 bikers dead at 30 days per billion kilometers traveled, France and its 195.3 bikers killed in 30 days per billion kilometers traveled would remain "three times more dangerous"for the motorcycle.

"The average speeds practiced by motorcyclists have decreased on all networks and up to 14 km / h on the departmental roads", indicates the balance sheet,"but they remain much higher than the authorized limit speeds and the average speeds practiced by daytime motorists". Exceedances of more than 10 km / h amount in particular to 26.3% for passenger vehicles against 34.2% in 2002, 23.8% for heavy goods vehicles (31.5% in 2002) and 42.7% for motorcycles (56.5% in 2002).

The number of motorcycle fatalities fell by 16.4% against -23.8% for motorists, -14.4% for heavy vehicle users and -10% for cyclists. On the other hand, it increased slightly (+ 1.6%) for mopeds, due in particular to the increase in the fleet and a particularly favorable reference year 2002 (-14.1% compared to 2001) and users of commercial vehicles (+ 1.4%). "We will have to wonder about the motorcycle", concludes Jean Chapelon, because"the difference in the number of fatalities compared to motorists is of great concern".

It should also be noted that the Council of State, the supreme body in matters of administrative litigation at the national level, has just rejected the request for annulment filed by New associated drivers against the decree of October 27, 2003 creating the automated sanction control system. The association intends to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Eric MICHEL

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