The latest official data from France and Germany reveals a worrying increase in road related fatalities for the first quarter of 2014. This follows a period of several years in which the casualty statistics have improved. The preliminary figures from Germany's Federal Statistics Office, 5143 Destatis, reveal that the number of people killed road traffic crashes in Germany rose by 4.2% to 640 in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in the previous year. Meanwhile the number of people injured in road traffic increased by 14.6% to 79,900 for the period. However, the overall number of accidents registered by the police in Germany decreased by 2.2% to around 545,600 in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the first quarter of 2013. But the number of crashes in which at least one person was injured rose by 16.7% to 61,800.
Between January and April 2014, 967 people were killed on French roads, an increase of 7.4% from the same period in the previous year. However, the French road safety department claims it can achieve its goal of reducing road deaths to under 2,000 deaths per year by 2020. This will however require cutting the number of deaths by 200-300/year. Tackling road deaths for users of two-wheeled vehicles is a priority. This category accounts for 20% of all fatal crashes in France but just 2% of traffic. In 2013, 5.2% riders of two-wheeled vehicles killed in crash were not wearing a helmet at the time of impact. Efforts are also to be made concerning 18-24 year-olds, which account for 20% of fatalities. This age category has however seen the biggest drop in the number of fatal crashes in 2013 according to official data. In 2013, road crashes caused 3,286 deaths, a drop of 10.5% compared with 2012.
Between January and April 2014, 967 people were killed on French roads, an increase of 7.4% from the same period in the previous year. However, the French road safety department claims it can achieve its goal of reducing road deaths to under 2,000 deaths per year by 2020. This will however require cutting the number of deaths by 200-300/year. Tackling road deaths for users of two-wheeled vehicles is a priority. This category accounts for 20% of all fatal crashes in France but just 2% of traffic. In 2013, 5.2% riders of two-wheeled vehicles killed in crash were not wearing a helmet at the time of impact. Efforts are also to be made concerning 18-24 year-olds, which account for 20% of fatalities. This age category has however seen the biggest drop in the number of fatal crashes in 2013 according to official data. In 2013, road crashes caused 3,286 deaths, a drop of 10.5% compared with 2012.
