On the Rise: April Road Fatalities in France
April fatalities surge in France's roadways, revealing a 4% uptick in traffic-related deaths compared to the previous month.
Reversing a five-month downward trend, road fatalities in metropolitan France climbed by 4% in April 2025 compared to the same month last year, as reported by the Road Safety Authority on May 16. The grim statistic: 247 lives lost on French roads last April, compared to 237 the year prior.
Breaking down the grim numbers, the Road Safety Authority shared that fatalities among drivers (125, an increase of 17), pedestrians (34, up by 7), and cyclists (21, an increase of 4) were on the rise. Contrastingly, the number of motorcyclist fatalities dropped, with 52 deaths in April 2025, 17 fewer than a year ago.
Third of Fatal Accidents Linked to Mobile Phone Use
Alarmingly, phone use was reportedly involved in a third of fatal accidents recorded by law enforcement on metropolitan France's roads in April 2025. In total, 4,496 traffic accidents with injuries occurred, marking a 5% increase from the previous year. The subsequent toll: 1,323 serious injuries, up 1%.
On overseas roads, the grim toll rose by 7%, with 16 fatalities in April 2025. However, the number of traffic accidents fell by 15% and the number of injured victims dropped by 19% compared to April 2024.
Unmasking the Use of Mobile Phones While Driving
Florence Guillaume, Interministerial Delegate for Road Safety, issued a stern warning amidst the rising mobile phone use while driving, particularly in a professional context. Nearly a third of fatal accidents during business trips are linked to inattention, often caused by phone usage, according to her statement.
Trends and Insights
While road fatalities in France have generally followed a positive trend in recent years, certain categories have faced occasional increases. In a broader context, April 2025's figures represent a minor increase in relation to the overall positive trend.
A more detailed annual analysis of road fatalities for 2024 and the early months of 2025 will become available from the French Road Safety Observatory in May 2025.
The French government has expressed concern over the rising usage of mobile phones while driving, particularly among professional drivers, as mobile phone use has been linked to a third of fatal accidents on French roads in April 2025. In addition, science and health-and-wellness enthusiasts might find interesting the April road fatality statistics in France, as they demonstrate a slight (4%) increase in road fatalities compared to the same month in the previous year, with general-news outlets reporting 247 lives lost in metropolitan France. Furthermore, crime-and-justice aficionados may be intrigued by the ever-changing trends in mobile phone usage While Driving, a topic of increasing interest for the French Road Safety Authority.
