Paris (AFP)

The number of road deaths in metropolitan France remained stable in July, with 328 people killed, the same number as in July 2018, said Tuesday Road Safety.

In the first seven months of the year, the authorities recorded 1,843 deaths on the roads, 9 less than the same period last year. The year 2018 ended with a "historic" drop in road mortality.

The busy period due to vacation departures, the month of July confirms the stabilization trend that began in June after a mixed first half.

In July, the number of personal injuries was 5.283, up 4.4% compared to July 2018, and was accompanied by an increase in the number of injuries (6.759, + 3.5%).

There has also been an increase in bodily injuries since the beginning of the year (+419 accidents) with 531 people injured more (40,278).

In Overseas, 23 people died in July, against 24 in July 2018.

In addition, mortality fell in July among cyclists, with seven fewer deaths and bikers (-17). Nevertheless, pedestrian mortality has increased, with eight more deaths.

The first three months of the year had seen the number of road deaths increase worryingly (+ 9.3%, 63 more killed than in the first quarter of 2018).

In particular, the authorities deplored "a relaxation of the behavior (of motorists) induced by the destroyed radars" as part of the movement of "yellow vests", which intended to denounce the lowering of the speed limit from 90 km / h to 80 km / h on secondary roads.

The death toll then fell again in April and May before stabilizing in June.

© 2019 AFP