In September 2023, 292 fatalities occurred on the roads of mainland France and 15 overseas.
Mainland
It is estimated that 292 people died on the roads of mainland France in September 2023, compared with 267 in September 2022, an increase of 6%. In particular, there was a 20% increase in the number of car users killed, while the number of powered two-wheeler and cyclists killed remained stable. The increase was mainly observed on roads in rural areas.
1,585 people were seriously injured, i.e. 10% compared with September 2022 (according to the estimation method developed by ONISR on the basis of work by Gustave Eiffel University). The rise in the number of seriously injured in September mainly concerned powered two-wheeler users.
* September 2023 compared with September 2022
** Cumulative 3 months from July 2023 to September 2023 compared with cumulative 3 months from July 2023 to September 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 2023/10/06
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 -6% compared to the previous 12 months, and by -5% 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 1,507 fatalities lower by -5% compared to the previous 12 months and by -7% compared to 2019.
Fatalities among powered two-wheeler users have fallen significantly over the past 12 months: 702 people were killed, lower by -3% compared to the previous 12 months, and lower by -6% compared to 2019.
Pedestrian fatalities have fallen sharply over the past 12 months: 431 pedestrians have died, lower by -10% compared to the previous 12 months, and by -11% compared to 2019.
Cycling fatalities over the last 12 months show a downward trend: 196 cyclists were killed, lower by -19% compared to the previous 12 months. However, this result is +5% 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, and in July in particular. 40 people were killed in the last year, a rise of +14% 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: 484 young people were killed, a decrease by -14% compared with the previous 12 months, and by -12% compared with 2019.
Fatalities among people aged 65 or over stands at 861 people killed in the last 12 months, lower by -3% compared to the previous 12 months and by +1% 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 2023/10/06
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 -3% compared to the previous 12 months, and by -3% 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, lower by -3% compared to the previous 12 months and by -8% compared to 2019.
Car users account for just under a third of seriously injured; over the last 12 months, they are estimated at 4,700 seriously injured, lower by -3% compared to the previous 12 months and by -8% 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 -4% 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 1,900 pedestrians have been seriously injured over the past 12 months, lower by -4% compared to the previous 12 months and by -16% 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 +12% 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 2,700 seriously injured, lower by -3% on the previous 12 months and by -3% on 2019.
The number of seriously injured people among people aged 65 or over is estimated at 2,500 seriously injured over the last 12 months, higher by +2% compared with the previous 12 months and lower by -3% compared with 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 2023/10/06
Detailed table for September 2023, and the last 3 months compared to the same period last year
The recent trend (last 3 months) is down-3% for fatalities and stable for seriously injured.
The number of seriously injured is decreasing for all modes of transport except for powered two-wheeler users. The number of fatalities fell among 18-24 year-olds, but increased among the senior citizens. More people aged 18-24 were seriously injured.
The number of fatalities fell in urban and rural areas, but the number of fatalities increased in rural areas. The number of fatalities and seriously injured on motorways is up.
** Cumulative 3 months from July 2023 to September 2023 compared with cumulative 3 months from July 2023 to September 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 2023/10/06
Overseas
In September 2023, the police recorded 261 injury accidents for french overseas, -1% fewer than in 2022.
In these accidents, there were:
- 15 fatalities (8 in the DROMs and 7 in the other territories), i.e. -25% compared to 2022;
- 335 injured (293 in the DROMs and 42 in the other territories), i.e. -5% compared to 2022.
* September 2023 compared with September 2022
** Cumulative 3 months from July 2023 to September 2023 compared with cumulative 3 months from July 2023 to September 2022
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 2023/10/06 for the year 2023
The fall in the number of deaths recorded by the police this September 2023 is also in line with the trend observed over the last 3 months. The fall in the number of people injured in September 2023 does not reflect the upward trend seen over the last 3 months.
This trend can be seen overall in the overseas counties and regions (-36% of fatalities and +9% of injured recorded), while in the other overseas territories fatalities and injured increased (+21% of fatalities and +2% of injured recorded).