In July 2021, 313 fatalities occurred on the roads of mainland France and 30 overseas.
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Warning: the health crisis linked to Covid-19 has led the government to take exceptional measures to restrict trips and activities. Since March 2020, the evolution of road accidents reflects the hazards of the measures and the way French people have adapted their mobility according to the periods. A curfew has been in place in mainland France since the beginning of 2021 and teleworking is strongly recommended. In July 2021, there are no longer any restrictions on travel in France mainland. |
Mainland
313 people were killed on the roads of mainland France in July 2021 compared to 293 in July 2020, i.e. 20 more people killed (+7%). This result is down compared to July 2019 (15 fewer people killed, i.e. -5%) and compared to the average for July 2015-2019 (-8%).
The number of injury accidents recorded by police forces at 5,006 in July 2021, compared to 4,970 in July 2020, i.e. 36 more injury accidents, and 5,287 in July 2019, i.e. 281 fewer injury accidents. The number of injury accidents is down by -5% compared to July 2019.
6,609 people were injured in July 2021, compared to 6,386 in July 2020, i.e. 223 more people (an increase of +3%). However, the number of injuries was down by -3% compared to July 2019, with 183 fewer people injured.
Travel in July 2021 was slightly higher than in July 2020 (an average of +10% compared to July 2020 according to the Cerema traffic dataviz). The increase is particularly marked at weekends, but is also present on working days to a lesser extent. The results concerning accidents and injuries thus reflect the resumption of French mobility, with an accident rate of the same order as that of July before the pandemic, while road deaths are still lower.
Data source : ONISR - Data on accidents involving injuries recorded by police forces - Geographical area : France mainland
Labelled series (definitive until 2020), 2021 estimate based on data as of 05/08/2021
2021 road fatalities by mode of travel, age, and road network
Since the curfew was lifted on the June 20th, no measures restricting the mobility of French people are in place in mainland France. Fatalities in July 2021 are significantly higher than that recorded in July 2020, when all travel was also authorised in July 2020 on French territory.
Cyclists fatalities in July 2021, with 23 cyclists killed, were lower than in July 2020 (6 fewer killed) but equivalent to the deaths in July 2019 (1 more killed).
Pedestrians fatalities in July 2021, with 31 pedestrians killed, are down compared to the pre-crisis period (July 2019) and the result is stable compared to July 2020. Thus, 31 pedestrians were killed in July 2021, 10 less than in July 2019 and 1 less than in July 2020.
Motorcyclists fatalities, with 77 fatalities, are below the average level of the last 10 years. The relatively wet weather in July 2021 in many regions played an important role in limiting motorbike use.
Car users fatalities were higher than in July 2020 and of the same order as before the pandemic: 153 car users were killed compared to 122 in July 2020, i.e. 31 more fatalities. This is slightly higher than July 2019 and similar to July in previous years. The significant drop of around 30 fatalities per month over the start of the year, compared to the years prior to the health crisis, is therefore not present for motorists this July.
60 young people aged 18-24 were killed on the roads in July 2021, higher than in July 2020 and July 2019. Deaths among young people appear to be returning to pre-crisis levels following the lifting of the curfew.
78 senior citizens aged 65 or over died on the roads in July 2021, a significantly higher death rate than in July 2020 and similar to July 2019.
In urban areas, fatalities are lower than in June 2020 and June 2019, with 4 and 9 fewer fatalities respectively. On rural roads, fatalities are higher than in July 2020 but slightly lower than in July 2019, with 22 more and 3 fewer fatalities respectively.
Data source : ONISR - Data on accidents involving injuries recorded by police forces - Geographical area : France mainland
Labelled series (definitive until 2020), 2021 estimate based on data as of 05/08/2021
Development 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 alternating restricted and authorized movements.
Car users usually account for half of all road deaths. Their fatalities over the last 12 months is estimated at 1,267 compared to 1,622 for the entire year of 2019, which reprensent a drop of -22% over a bit more than a year. Car users fatalities in July 2021 are higher than in July 2019 (+7 deaths).
Pedestrians fatalities also drops sharply over this period: it is estimated that 367 pedestrians were killed in the last 12 months compared to 483 over the entire year of 2019, which means a decrease of -24%.
These very strong declines are to be put in relation with the strong decrease of the fatalities among seniors aged 65 years or more, particularly those aged 75 years or over, who have severely limited their movements during lockdowns and curfew periods, but have also probably gone on holyday much less. Seniors account for half of the pedestrians fatalities each year, and more than a quarter of the car users fatalities.
The fatalities of powered two-wheeler users is also decreasing: the drop among motorcyclists represent -12% with 539 killed in the last 12 months compared to 615 killed in 2019, a decrease that is being reduced in recent months. The decrease in moped fatalities has been maintained since the beginning of 2021, -31% compared to 2019 with 92 moped fatalities in the last 12 months compared to 134 in 2019; a drop that probably reflects the measures that have curbed mobility among young people (distance learning, curfew).
Fatalities among young adults aged 18-24, at high risk of serious road accidents, have decreased by -17% in the last 12 months compared to 2019 (458 people killed compared to 549 in 2019), a trend that continues in this first half of 2021 with the curfew measures and the closure of some festive places.
Compared to other trends, cyclists fatalities have been increasing in recent months after a reduction at the beginning of the pandemic, and the result is on a sharp increase: 213 cyclists were killed in the last 12 months, +14% compared to 2019. Indeed,despite that the trips have been limited by the measures related to the health crisis, the French have shown a preference for using individual means of transport for short trips rather than public transport in towns, but also have developed leisure cycling in rural areas.
Finally, fatalities of heavy goods vehicle users is stable, as maintaining their activity remains essential for the daily life of the French people and companies. However, it remains at a level that has been reduced by almost half in 10 years.
Data source : ONISR - Data on accidents involving injuries recorded by police forces - Geographical area : France mainland
Labelled series (definitive until 2020), 2021 estimate based on data as of 05/08/2021
Overseas
In July 2021, the road safety indicators for French overseas are higher than in July 2020 and in July 2019, except for the injured :
- 272 injury accidents compared to 266 accidents;
- 336 injuries compared to 349 injuries;
- 30 fatalities compared to 27 fatalities.
ns: non-significant change
Data source : ONISR - Data on accidents involving injuries recorded by police forces - Geographical area : DOM + COM + New Caledonia
Definitive data until 2020, provisional data 2021 stopped on 05/08/2021