The death toll on the roads of metropolitan France fell by 8% in October with 252 people killed, 22 less than in October 2018, said Friday Road Safety. Since January 1st, 2,695 people have died on the road, one more than at the same time last year. The year 2018 ended with a "historic" drop in road deaths in mainland France (3,248 killed, 3,488 with Overseas).
The least lethal month in history
"This is an extremely positive figure, it is the least lethal October we have ever seen (in the history of road statistics, ed.) We are doing better than last year (274 deaths in October 2018), it is an encouragement and a proof that one can always do better ", welcomed with the AFP the interdepartmental delegate Road Safety Emmanuel Barbe.
This decline, which confirms that of September (-2.8%), offset a first quarter (+ 9.3%) and a month of August (+ 17.9%) particularly deadly. It "concerns mainly pedestrians while the mortality of cyclists, motorcyclists and motorists shows a slight increase," the statement said.
All indicators down
Other indicators are also down. The number of personal injuries was 5.093, 408 fewer than in October 2018 (-7.4%). The number of injured is also down 4.1% (6.413, 275 less than in October 2018).
In the United States, 20 people lost their lives on the roads, the same number as in 2018, while the number of injuries was generally stable (+1) and the total number of injuries was down (-12).