Utility vehicles and HGVs.
In 2024, 7.7 % of vehicles involved in injury crashes were utility vehicles (UVs), while these vehicles account for 14 % of the kilometres travelled in France. In total, 338 people died in crashes involving a utility vehicle, representing a 5.8 % decrease compared with 2023. This corresponds to 11 % of road traffic fatalities. Among these fatalities, 120 were occupants of a utility vehicle, while 218 were other road users.
Among the 218 fatalities who were not utility vehicle occupants (two thirds of the total), 59 % were vulnerable road users, including 60 pedestrians and 39 motorcyclists. In addition, 9 out of 10 victims were men, and 7 out of 10 were aged between 25 and 64. Alcohol (20 %) and speed (17 %) were the most frequent contributory factors in fatal crashes involving utility vehicle drivers.
Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) account for 3 % of vehicles involved in injury crashes and 6 % of the kilometres travelled in France in 2024. Crashes involving HGVs are particularly severe: they are fatal in 16 % of cases, compared with 5 % for crashes not involving an HGV. HGVs were involved in 2 297 crashes resulting in 399 fatalities, representing 12 % of the annual road traffic deaths recorded in metropolitan France. Among those killed 369 were not HGV occupants, i.e. 92 %. HGV drivers are presumed responsible in 38 % of fatal crashes involving them, compared with 70% for motorcyclists and 68% for passenger vehicle or utility vehicle drivers.
In addition, foreign HGVs are under-represented in fatal crashes: in 2024, they accounted for 30 % of HGV mileage in France but were involved in only 17 % of HGVs in fatal crashes for which registration is known in the BAAC database. However, foreign HGVs represent 47 % of HGVs involved in fatal crashes on motorways.
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