On motorways, alcohol, drug or medication use are the leading cause of fatal accidents

Four out of ten drivers responsible for fatal accidents involving the use of such substances are under 35, the Association of French Motorway Companies said on Wednesday.

Fatal accidents remained high on motorways in 2023, mainly killing young drivers, those under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to industry data published on Wednesday, July 31. However, the number of accidents fell slightly while traffic increased: 163 fatal accidents occurred in 2023, compared to 167 in 2022, and 181 people died, compared to 188 in 2022, detailed the Association of French Motorway Companies (Afsa), in the midst of the summer holiday rush.

After less deadly years during the pandemic, the statistics observed on highways “confirm an alteration of the security level” in the medium term, points out the Asfa. The association’s general delegate, Christophe Boutin, also deplores the fact that the accident factors increasing this year are all “behavioral factors, where the risk-taking is assumed by the driver”.

Under-34s are twice as likely to have caused a fatal accident and men are more represented in these fatal accidents, the delegate points out. The leading cause of fatal accidents (31%), and the one that has increased the most in a year, is alcohol consumption above the legal limits, but also drugs and medication to a lesser extent.

Four out of 10 drivers who cause these accidents related to the taking of such substances are under 35 years old, and these events occur more often at night and on weekends. One in two drunk drivers has a high blood alcohol level, greater than or equal to 1.2 g/l of blood (the legal limit being 0.5 g/l of blood). The second most common factor, excessive speed (19% of cases), most often concerns accidents occurring at night.

The number of fatal accidents involving pedestrians also remains high (18%), whether pedestrians getting out of a broken down or damaged vehicle, or pedestrians crossing the roads. Dangerous maneuvers (overtaking on the right, not respecting a safe distance) represent 17% of fatal accidents, compared to 10% in 2021. Inattention, linked for example to the use of the telephone, is stable (15%), while the share of accidents linked to drowsiness is decreasing (13%). “This can be explained by the fact that users are taking a few more breaks than before.”justifies Christophe Boutin.