Graph: See how French road fatality figures compare to previous years
195 deaths were recorded in February 2025
Fatalities have been significantly lower than usual at the start of 2025
Ronald Rampsch/Shutterstock
The number of fatal road accidents recorded in France in February 2025 fell 14% compared to the year before, official data suggests.
It was the lowest figure recorded in February – outside of those impacted by Covid-19 restrictions – for over 70 years.
There were 195 fatalities recorded in February 2025, compared to 227 in February 2024 (although 2024 was a 29-day month due to the leap year).
The information comes from the Observatoire national interministériel de la sécurité routière (ONISR, inter-ministerial road safety office).
Fatalities were also down in January 2025, with over 40 fewer deaths recorded than in January 2024.
A reduced death toll for motorists, motorcyclists, and cyclists were all recorded in the first month of the year, however the number of pedestrians killed in road accidents rose from 49 to 61.
Serious injuries were also down by 9%.
Read more: Driving getting safer in France, suggest January 2025 road safety statistics
The interactive graph below shows a monthly breakdown of figures between 2011 and 2025 (available up to February for the current year).
Click on the year at the top of the graph to look at the data for the corresponding months.
Figures have changed consistently throughout recent years, with no one month or season proving more dangerous than others.
However, these early figures may point to a sustained drop in fatalities in 2025, due in part to various safety programmes brought in by the government to improve driver safety.
These include both on motorways – such as patrols motorcycle patrols looking for drivers breaking safety rules – as well as in towns and villages.
Communes that promote safe driving practices may receive a ‘ville prudente’ reward.
Read more: ‘Careful’ road signs appearing in French towns and villages: what do they mean?
