In December 2023, 294 fatalities occurred on the roads of mainland France and 20 overseas.
Mainland
It is estimated that 294 people died on the roads of mainland France in December 2023, compared with 284 in December 2022, an increase of 4%. In particular, there was an increase in the number of powered two-wheeler users fatalities (+16 killed) and pedestrians (+9 killed), but a fall in car users fatalities (-12 killed). The increase was seen on all road networks excluding motorways.
1,109 people were seriously injured in December 2023, i.e. +9% compared with December 2022 (according to the estimation method developed by ONISR on the basis of work by Gustave Eiffel University). This increase mainly concerns users of bicycles and powered two-wheelers.
* December 2023 compared with December 2022
** Cumulative 3 months from October to December 2023 compared with cumulative 3 months from October to December 2022
Data source : ONISR - Data on accidents involving injuries recorded by police forces - Geographical area : France mainland
Labelled series for fatalities (definitives until 2022), ONISR-UGE estimations seriously injured, 2023 estimate based on data as of 2024/01/22
Evolution of the number of users fatalities cumulated on a rolling 12 months
The health crisis has deeply affected trips since March 2020, for all users, but to varying degrees depending on the alternation of restrictions and authorized movements. Even if the pandemic is still active, trips and accident rates are returning to near pre-pandemic levels, sometimes with changes linked to new habits.
Overall, fatalities over the last 12 months have decreased by -3% compared to the previous 12 months, and by -2% compared to 2019.
Since the pandemic, car users have accounted for just under half of all road deaths. Their fatalities over the last 12 months is estimated at 1,525 fatalities lower by -3% compared to the previous 12 months and by -6% compared to 2019.
Fatalities among powered two-wheeler users have fallen significantly over the past 12 months: 707 people were killed, lower by -2% compared to the previous 12 months, and lower by -6% compared to 2019.
Pedestrian fatalities have fallen sharply over the past 12 months: 440 pedestrians have died, lower by -10% compared to the previous 12 months, and by -9% compared to 2019.
Cycling fatalities over the last 12 months show a downward trend: 226 cyclists were killed, lower by -8% compared to the previous 12 months. However, this result is +21% higher than in 2019. The French are showing an interest in using individual modes of transport for short journeys in towns and cities, but they also use bicycles for leisure activities in rural areas.
Fatalities among PMDs motorized users has risen sharply over the last 12 months, 42 people were killed in the last year, a rise of +20% compared to the previous 12 months.
Fatalities among young adults aged 18-24, at high risk of serious road accidents, has also fallen over the last 12 months: 502 young people were killed, a decrease by -9% compared with the previous 12 months, and by -9% compared with 2019.
Fatalities among people aged 65 or over stands at 884 people killed in the last 12 months, stable compared with the previous 12 months and up by +4% compared to 2019.
Data source : ONISR - Data on accidents involving injuries recorded by police forces - Geographical area : France mainland
Labelled series for fatalities (definitives until 2022), 2023 estimate based on data as of 2024/01/22
Evolution of the number of users seriously injured cumulated on a rolling 12 months
The health crisis has deeply affected trips since March 2020, for all users, but to varying degrees depending on the alternation of restrictions and authorized movements. Even if the pandemic is still active, trips and accident rates are returning to near pre-pandemic levels, sometimes with changes linked to new habits.
Overall, the number of seriously injured over the last 12 months is lower by -2% compared to the previous 12 months, and by -1% compared to 2019.
Powered two-wheeler represent for a third of seriously injured; over the last 12 months, they are estimated at 5,300 seriously injured, stable compared with the previous 12 months and lower by -7% compared to 2019.
Car users account for just under a third of seriously injured; over the last 12 months, they are estimated at 4,800 seriously injured, stable compared to the previous 12 months and by -7% compared to 2019.
The number of cyclists seriously injured over the last 12 months is well above the figure for 2019, but has recently fallen: 2,500 cyclistsare thought to have been seriously injured over the last 12 months, lower by -5% compared the previous 12 months, but higher by +8% compared to 2019. Indeed, the French are showing an interest in using individual modes of transport for short journeys in towns and cities, but they also use bicycles for leisure activities in rural areas.
The number of seriously injured pedestrians has been stable over the past year, but remains significantly lower than in 2019: an estimated 2,000 pedestrians have been seriously injured over the past 12 months, stable compared to the previous 12 months and by -13% compared to 2019.
The number of seriously injured PMDs motorized users continues to rise, with over 600 seriously injured in the last 12 months, higher by +7% compared to the previous 12 months.
The number of seriously injured among young adults aged 18-24, an age group at high risk of severe road crashes, has been on a downward trend over the last 12 months, with 2,800 seriously injured, up slightly by 1% on the previous 12 months and down slightly by 1% on 2019.
The number of seriously injured people among people aged 65 or over is estimated at 2,600 seriously injured over the last 12 months, higher by +4% compared with the previous 12 months and down slightly by 1% on 2019.
Data source : ONISR - Data on accidents involving injuries recorded by police forces - Geographical area : France mainland
ONISR-UGE estimations seriously injured, 2023 estimate based on data as of 2024/01/22
Detailed table for December 2023, and the last 3 months compared to the same period last year
The recent trend (last 3 months) is up +8% for fatalities and +3% for seriously injured.
The increase applies to all modes of transport, with the exception of serious injured on bicycles and in PMDs motorized. While the number of fatalities among children, young adults and senior citizens rose, the number of seriously injured under-18s fell slightly.
The number of people killed and seriously injured increased on all types of road.
** Cumulative 3 months from October to December 2023 compared with cumulative 3 months from October to December 2022
Data source : ONISR - Data on accidents involving injuries recorded by police forces - Geographical area : France mainland
Labelled series for fatalities (definitives until 2022), ONISR-UGE estimations seriously injured, 2023 estimate based on data as of 2024/01/22
Overseas
In December 2023, the police recorded 237 injury accidents for french overseas, 10% fewer than in 2022.
In these accidents, there were:
- 20 fatalities (12 in the DROMs and 8 in the other territories), i.e. -13% compared to 2022;
- 408 injured (354 in the DROMs and 54 in the other territories), i.e. +16% compared to 2022.
* December 2023 compared with December 2022
** Cumulative 3 months from October to December 2023 compared with cumulative 3 months from October to December 2022
Data source : ONISR - Data on accidents involving injuries recorded by police forces - Geographical area : DROM, COM-NC
Definitive data until 2022, provisional BAAC data stopped on 2024/01/22 for the year 2023
The decrease in the number of deaths and the increase in the number of injured recorded by the police this December 2023 also corresponds to the trend observed over the last 3 months.
This trend can be seen in the French overseas counties and regions (-15% of fatalities and +24% of injured recorded), while in the other French overseas territories the number of fatalities and injured fell (-45% of fatalities and -25% of injured recorded).