First Aid5 min read
Accident statistics
Key figures on accidents in France, main causes and the most at-risk driver profiles.
Updated 13 June 2026
What this lesson covers
The scale of the problem in France
The main causes of fatal accidents
The most at-risk profiles
Where and when do accidents occur?
The role of the seatbelt
What to remember for the exam
Recap
- Approximately 3,000 deaths and 70,000 injuries every year on French roads.
- Main causes: speed (1/3 of deaths), alcohol (1/3 of deaths), inattention, fatigue, drugs.
- 18-24 year olds represent 9% of the population but 17% of those killed on the road.
- Powered two-wheelers: 2% of traffic but 20% of those killed.
- The majority of fatal accidents occur outside built-up areas, on familiar routes.
- Using a phone while driving triples the risk of an accident.
- The seatbelt divides the risk of death by 3 in a frontal collision.
- Fatigue is involved in 1 in 5 fatal accidents: the only solution is to stop and sleep.
This lesson is part of the Pass
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Unlock with the PassSources: Sécurité routière (securite-routiere.gouv.fr) and service-public.fr.