The government is to announce on Monday the creation of the qualification of “road homicide” to replace that of “manslaughter”.
The creation of the qualification of road homicide “is not going to fundamentally change things”, regrets the president of the Road Prevention association. Anne Lavaud explains, to franceinfo Monday July 17, to wait for “much stronger measures“.
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The Prime Minister must announce the creation of the qualification of “road homicide” to replace that of“manslaughter” awarded to the driver found guilty of an accident, in particular when driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. Elisabeth Borne chairs Monday afternoon in Matignon the Interministerial Committee for Road Safety (CISR), which had not been met for five years.
A “contradictory” policy
What is especially problematic for the Road Prevention association is the policy “contradictory” of the government. On the one hand, there were concrete measures: the end of point deductions for minor speeding and the driving license accessible to 17 year olds. On the other hand, this measurement at “strong symbolic dimension” called her Matignon.“We are waiting for much stronger measuresexplains Anne Lavaud. The last CISR is the one that announced the 80 km / h on two-way departmental roads.
“At the association, we know that it is speed which is an aggravating factor for all the other causes of death. So we have to work on speed.”
Anne Lavaud, president of the Prévention Routière associationat franceinfo
But it is true that this new qualification was eagerly awaited, confirms Anne Lavaud, “Many victims’ associations have been asking for years for this qualifier of ‘involuntary homicide’ to disappear. For these associations, it was really very complicated throughout the procedures, to hear this ‘involuntary’ character”explains the president of the association.
A statistical interest
There is no increase in sentences with a new qualifier of road homicide. This type of offense can climb, if there are several aggravating circumstances, up to ten years in prison and a fine of 150,000 euros. But, for Anne Lavaud, “In any case, it is never applied. And the intention to consume narcotics or to drive very fast is not restricted by this risk of penalties”.
On the other hand, with this new qualification, there is a statistical interest. For now, fatal road accidents are recorded as intentional homicide or manslaughter. “In the number of killed, we do not know how to qualify who among them are responsible for accidents or victims of accidents”details the president of Road Prevention. “With this qualifier of road homicide, we will be able to qualify the victims. And so, it will shed more light on who is the victim. And maybe there, in terms of pedagogy, we will be able to sit on these figures “explains Anne Lavaud.