2024 Road Safety Annual Report

Publication on Thursday 30 January 2025 of the provisional Road Safety results for 2024

The final results for 2024 will be published at the end of May 2025.

In mainland France, 3,190 people were killed on the roads (2,477 men and 713 women), 23 more than in 2023 (+0.7%). The total number of injured people is estimated at 233,000, down by 0.8% compared with 2023, while the number of serious injuries remains stable (almost 16,000 serious injuries).

Compared to 2019, the trend is also downwards: - 1.7% of fatalities, - 2.5% of estimated injured (including - 2.5% of estimated seriously injured). While 78% of those killed and 75% of those seriously injured were men, 84% of those suspected of being responsible for fatal accidents were men.

241 people were killed on the roads in the overseas territories in 2024, 4% more than in 2023 but 5% fewer than in 2019:

-    163 people died in the French overseas counties and regions (+21% compared with 2023 and -10% compared with 2019);
-    78 in overseas collectivities and New Caledonia (-19% and -15% respectively).

The main indicators of injury accidents on the roads recorded by the police (BAAC file, final version of data for year N in May of year N+1, quasi-final version in January of year N+1) are certified by the Autorité de la Statistique Publique (French public statistics authority).

Road safety results in France (mainland and overseas territories)

In 2024, 3,431 people were killed on the roads in mainland France or in the French overseas territories (ONISR estimate based on 21/01/2025 data update).

This is a slight increase (+0.9%) compared with 2023, but 1.9% lower than in 2019, the reference year for the 2020-2030 decade.

Road safety results - mainland France only

In mainland France, an estimated 3,190 people were killed in 2024, 23 more than in 2023 (+0.7%). The final results will be published at the end of May 2025.

 

Trend in annual road fatalities in mainland France

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024
Data relating to injury accidents recorded by the police, mainland France

According to the ONISR-Université Gustave Eiffel (Registre du Rhône – Rhône register) estimation method applied to injury accidents recorded by the police in 2024, 233,000 people were injured on the roads of mainland France in 2024, 16,000 of them seriously. The trend in the number of people injured for all types of accident was stable compared with 2023 (-0.8%), as was the number of people seriously injured (-0.6%).

 

Evolution of fatalities and injuries in mainland France

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024
Data relating to injury accidents recorded by the police, mainland France

2024 casualties by road networks in mainland France

Roads in rural areas accounted for 60% of deaths and 48% of serious injuries in 2024, and 1,928 people were killed on roads in rural areas (51 more than in 2023, i.e. +3%).

In urban areas, 1,020 people were killed (stable).

On motorways, 242 people were killed (27 fewer than in 2023, i.e. -10%).

image-20250203094413-1

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024
Data relating to injury accidents recorded by the police, mainland France, and estimates based on ONISR-Université Gustave Eiffel modelling (Rhône Register).

2024 casualties according to age and gender in mainland France

Fatalities according to gender

In 2024, out of the 3,190 people who died on the roads, 2,477 were men (+20 deaths compared with 2023) and 713 were women (+3 deaths). 75% of those seriously injured were male, as in 2023, but more than in 2019. As a result, men continue to account for the majority of road deaths (77.7%, compared with 77.6% in 2023, 77.3% in 2019 and 76.7% in 2018).

 

Fatalities and injuries according to gender in mainland France in 2024

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024; Insee – Estimated 2024 population on January 1st.
Data relating to injury accidents recorded by the police, mainland France, and estimates based on ONISR-Université Gustave Eiffel modelling (Rhône Register).

In particular, some modes of transport whose use is developing rapidly have affected men more: 31 more men killed on bicycles in 2024 than in 2019, compared with 5 more women killed. 22 more men killed on 2WDs in 2024 than in 2023, compared with 9 fewer women killed.

Ratio of male to female fatalities according to mobility mode

 

Fatalities according to gender and mode in mainland France in 2024

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024
Data relating to injury accidents recorded by the police, mainland France

Fatalities according to the age group

In 2024, 92 14-17 year-olds were killed, down on 2023 (-24 fatalities) and stable compared with 2019.

531 18-24 year-olds were killed, higher than in 2023 (+34 deaths) but lower than in 2019 (-18 deaths); the number of 18-24 year-old deaths per million young people of this age remains very high, at 97 deaths per million inhabitants.

443 deaths are estimated in the 25-34 age group, down on 2023 (-22 deaths) and 2019 (-73 deaths). More than 500 people 75 years or over died, a slight increase compared with 2023 (+10 fatalities) but down by 6 fatalities compared with 2019; these ages remain at higher risk, but to a lesser extent.

 

Fatalities and injuries according to the age group in mainland France in 2024

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024; Insee – Estimated 2024 population on January 1st.
Data relating to injury accidents recorded by the police, mainland France, and estimates based on ONISR-Université Gustave Eiffel modelling (Rhône Register).

To understand the trends in risk for each age group, it is useful to look at the number of fatalities per million inhabitants in each age group. Thus, given the increase in the senior population, the variations that often appear to be rising are put into perspective by falling or remaining stable. Young people and adolescents under the age of 18 now have the lowest mortality rates. The biggest improvement in fatalities has been in the 0-13 age group (down 58% since 2010).

 

Evolution of fatalities according to age group in mainland France

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024
Data relating to injury accidents recorded by the police, mainland France

In 2024, 48 people died per million inhabitants in mainland France. The highest rates, indicating the age groups most at risk of road deaths, are:

-    97 deaths per million population for young people aged 18-24 ;
-    83 deaths per million for senior citizens aged 85 or over;
-    73 deaths per million for senior citizens aged 75-84;
-    58 deaths per million for the 25-34 age group.

 

Evolution of fatalities per million inhabitants according to age group in mainland France

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024; Insee – Estimated 2024 population on January 1st.
Data relating to injury accidents recorded by the police, mainland France

2024 casualties according to the mobility mode in mainland France

Since the pandemic, the proportion of vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, moped users, motorised two-wheelers) among those killed or seriously injured has increased.

Passenger car occupants now account for less than half of those killed (48%).

The proportion of powered two-wheeler (P2W) users is increasing: they account for 23% of those killed, 32% of those seriously injured and 37% of those injured who will suffer after-effects 1 year after the accident, for less than 2% of motorised traffic.

The proportion of cyclists and e-scooters users is increasing: they account for 8% of fatalities, 21% of those seriously injured and 31% of those injured with serious after-effects 1 year after the accident.

 

Fatalities and injuries according to mode in mainland France in 2024

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024; SDES – Individuals’ mobility survey (Enquête mobilité des personnes) 2019.
Data relating to injury accidents recorded by the police, mainland France, and estimates based on ONISR-Université Gustave Eiffel modelling (Rhône Register).

In 2024, it is estimated that 1,535 occupants of passenger cars died, 726 P2W users, 451 pedestrians, 222 cyclists and 43 e-scooter users. As the database is currently being consolidated, the analysis of ‘other’ modes of transport will only be carried out on the basis of definitive data.

The number of people killed in 2024 is higher than in 2023 (+0.7%, or +23 fatalities) and lower than in 2019 (-1.7%, or -54 fatalities).

The decrease compared with 2019 is largely due to the fall in fatalities among occupants of passenger cars (-87 deaths, or -5%), pedestrians (-32 deaths compared with 2019) and powered two-wheeler users (-23 deaths compared with 2019).

The increase compared with 2023 concerns occupants of passenger vehicles (+23 deaths), powered two-wheelers (+20 deaths) and pedestrians (+12 deaths); the number of e-scooters users is stable.

 

Evolution of fatalities according to mode in mainland France in 2024

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024.
Data relating to injury accidents recorded by the police, mainland France

Road safety results overseas

In this chapter, the results concerning injury accidents, fatalities and injured people correspond to the definitive data as recorded by the police in the BAAC file. The ONISR-Université Gustave Eiffel (Rhône register) methodology for estimating injuries is not currently applied to the French overseas territories.

 

image-20250131115032-11Trend in annual road deaths in French overseas territories

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024.
Data relating to accidents involving injuries recorded by the police in the French overseas territories

241 people were killed on the roads in the French overseas territories in 2024, 163 in the overseas counties and 78 in the overseas collectivities and New Caledonia (NC). This represents an increase of +4% (or 10 more fatalities) compared to 2023 and a decrease of -5% (or 13 fewer fatalities) compared to 2019 (reference year).

 

Evolution of fatalities and injuries in French overseas territories

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024.
Data relating to accidents involving injuries recorded by the police in the French overseas territories

 

Evolution of the number of users' fatalities cumulated on a rolling 12 months

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024.
Data relating to accidents involving injuries recorded by the police in the French overseas territories

In 2024, deaths on powered two-wheelers (P2W), which account for a third of road deaths in the French overseas territories, are up on 2023 (83 users killed compared with 72 killed), and on 2019 (+17%). Failure to wear a helmet accounts for a third of P2W fatalities.

Passenger car deaths, which account for more than a third of road deaths in the French overseas territories, are higher than in 2023, with 94 deaths compared with 84 in 2023. Seatbelts are a major issue in the overseas territories, where in several areas half or even three quarters of those killed were not wearing seatbelts.

Pedestrian fatalities are on the rise in 2024 compared with 2023, with 46 pedestrians killed compared with 39 killed, and down compared with 2019, with 46 pedestrians killed compared with 53 killed.

Cycling fatalities decrease in 2024, with 9 cyclists killed compared with 15 killed in 2023 and 14 killed in 2019.

Road deaths among young people aged 18-34 are on the rise: 103 killed in 2024 compared with 82 killed in 2023, 128 killed in 2022 and 101 killed in 2019.

Mortality among 35-44 year-olds decreases in 2024: 31 fatalities in 2024 compared with 40 fatalities in 2023 and 34 fatalities in 2019.

Fatalities among 45-64 year-olds are on the rise: 62 fatalities in 2024 compared to 57 in 2023 and are down on 2019, i.e. 6 fewer fatalities.

Fatalities among senior citizens aged 65 and over are down compared with 2023 (i.e. 6 fewer fatalities), but are higher than in 2019 (+4 fatalities). Senior citizens are still much less represented than in mainland France.

The road risk varies greatly according to the territory

 

Overseas average annual fatalities per million inhabitants (2020-2024)

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024.
Data relating to accidents involving injuries recorded by the police in the French overseas territories

While the average proportion of fatalities involving P2Ws is 34% in the French Overseas Territories as a whole, 11 points higher than in mainland France,

  • the ratio is lowest in New Caledonia (13%), Réunion (21%) and Guadeloupe (26%);
  • high in French Guiana (43%) and French Polynesia (53%);
  • very high in Martinique (71%).

 

Distribution of 2024 road fatalities according to the overseas territory and mode

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024.
Data relating to accidents involving injuries recorded by the police in the French overseas territories

In overseas counties

Road deaths are on the rise in the French overseas departments and regions. It rises from 135 fatalities in 2023 to 163 in 2024.

 

Evolution of fatalities and injuries in French overseas counties

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024.
Data relating to accidents involving injuries recorded by the police in the French overseas counties

In overseas communities and New Caledonia

The death toll in the other overseas territories (overseas collectivities and New Caledonia) will be 78 fatalities in 2024. This figure is lower than in 2019.

 

Evolution of fatalities and injuries in French overseas communities and New Caledonia

Source: ONISR definitive data up to 2023, provisional data for 2024.
Data relating to accidents involving injuries recorded by the police in the French overseas communities and New Caledonia