For the first time since the start of the Covid-19 health crisis, road mortality increased in October compared to the same month in 2019: 14% more people died on the roads of mainland France, announced this Monday road safety.
A total of 294 deaths were recorded in October, i.e. 37 more than in October 2019. Since the start of 2021, road mortality had systematically been down compared to the same month in 2019, a more relevant point of comparison than 2020 due to travel restrictions and changes brought about that year by the health crisis. The increase reached 45% compared to October 2020 (203 deaths), a month marked by the establishment of a curfew in the face of the second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic.
In a statement sent to Agence France-Presse, the interministerial delegate for road safety, Marie Gautier-Melleray, said she was concerned about this assessment: “After several months of encouraging results, the road accident figures in October are worrying, particularly for the most vulnerable. » Thus, pedestrian mortality jumped by more than 70%, with 53 deaths compared to 31 in October 2019. The increase is 47% compared to October 2020 (36 deaths).
The number of people over 65 who have died is also increasing sharply: 96 compared to 76 two years ago and 59 last year. Cyclist mortality increased in October 2021: 27 cyclists killed compared to 8 in October 2020 (i.e. 19 more) and 16 killed in October 2019 (i.e. 11 more). On the other hand, motorist mortality decreased compared to 2019, with 131 deaths, or 8 fewer. This figure, however, increased compared to October 2020, when 107 motorists were killed.
In addition to fatal accidents, the number of bodily accidents recorded by law enforcement stood at 5 in October 717, compared to 2021 in October 4 (+ 455%), and 2020 in October 28 (+ 5 %). 135 people were injured in October 2019, compared to 11 in October 7 (+149%) and 2021 in October 5 (+468%).
