The number of road deaths fell by 9% in mainland France compared to 2019, but is on the rise overseas (+8%). It has also risen sharply among cyclists, by 21%.
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The provisional balance sheet was almost exact. In 2021, a total of 2,944 people died on the roads of France, according to the final report published on Wednesday June 1 by Road Safety. This is three deaths less than the provisional assessment published at the end of January (2,947 deaths). The number of people who died on overseas roads is, for its part, on the rise (275 deaths, +8%), i.e. a total of 3,219 deaths on French roads in one year.
In 2021, mortality linked to road insecurity in France therefore fell by 9% compared to 2019, the reference year before the Covid pandemic. the year was marked by travel restrictions and the closure of nightclubs in the first half. LMotorists are less affected (1,414 killed), as well as motorized two-wheelers (668 deaths) and pedestrians (414 deaths, -14% compared to 2019).
However, mortality increased sharply among cyclists, 227 of whom lost their lives (+21%), in a context of the development of soft transport modes. According to the Vélos&Territoires association, cited by Road Safety, cycling practice increased by 14% in rural areas and 31% in urban areas in 2021 compared to 2019.
The mortality of users of motorized personal transport devices (electric scooters, monowheels, etc.) has more than doubled: 24 deaths were counted in 2021 compared to 10 in 2019.
In mainland France, 2021 is a deadlier year than 2020 (2,550 dead), that is an increase of 16%. During this year of the appearance of Covid-19, mortality on the roads had mechanically fallen to its lowest level since the post-war period, under the effect of the reduction in traffic caused by the health crisis.