The latest official data shows that France’s worrying trend for increased road accident levels is continuing.
The number of people killed in vehicle accidents increased by 7.5% in February 2011 to 273, compared to the 254 killed February 2010.
This development is of concern as it follows a 21.2% increase in road deaths in January 2011. France has previously been highly successful at reducing accident levels on its roads, with tough enforcement policies having been introduced to crack down on speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol.
With fatality levels now beginning to rise after several years of major reductions there is scepticism that the country can bring the annual death rate on French roads below the 3,000 mark by 2012. France has had considerable success in cutting accident levels in recent years but recent changes to policy have reduced the penalties against offending drivers, a change that has been severely criticised by the country’s road safety bodies.
However, the French road safety office has added that better road conditions in February 2011 than in February 2010 could actually have contributed to the increase in road accidents, as in better conditions drivers tend to make more journeys and hit higher speeds.
The number of people killed in vehicle accidents increased by 7.5% in February 2011 to 273, compared to the 254 killed February 2010.
This development is of concern as it follows a 21.2% increase in road deaths in January 2011. France has previously been highly successful at reducing accident levels on its roads, with tough enforcement policies having been introduced to crack down on speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol.
With fatality levels now beginning to rise after several years of major reductions there is scepticism that the country can bring the annual death rate on French roads below the 3,000 mark by 2012. France has had considerable success in cutting accident levels in recent years but recent changes to policy have reduced the penalties against offending drivers, a change that has been severely criticised by the country’s road safety bodies.
However, the French road safety office has added that better road conditions in February 2011 than in February 2010 could actually have contributed to the increase in road accidents, as in better conditions drivers tend to make more journeys and hit higher speeds.
