Road deaths in France decrease in September while serious injuries spike

The number of deaths on French roads fell in September compared to the same month in 2025 - however serious injuries have increased sharply.

Figures were published on October 16 as part of the monthly reports issued by the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory (Observatoire national interministériel de la sécurité routière, ONISR).

An estimated total of 268 road users in metropolitan France died last month, down 5% on the same period last year, while 1,685 people were seriously injured, up 15% on September 2025. 

The death toll fell for motorists (20 fewer fatalities), pedestrians (6 fewer fatalities) and e-scooter users (5 fewer fatalities), but rose for cyclists (14 more fatalities) and users of motorised two-wheelers (5 more fatalities). 

The number of serious injuries rose for all road users, but particularly for cyclists (+34%), e-scooter users (+33%) and pedestrians (+25%).

Overall, road deaths over the last 12 months have fallen by 2%, with motorists accounting for nearly half of all fatalities. 

The French government has taken action in response to road safety issues. 

Most recently, all prefects have been instructed to temporarily suspend a driver’s licence if they are caught using a hand-held mobile phone behind the wheel as outlined in the Code de la route - even if no other offence was committed.

This decision came as France advances its plan for 'virtual points' for drivers with foreign licences with the aim of ending inequality between French and foreign-licence holders. 

Cyclists fatalities on the rise

Some 256 cyclists died on French roads over the last 12 months. This represents an increase of 15% compared with the previous 12 months and up by 37% compared with 2019.*

Concurrently, a total of around 3,000 cyclists are reported to have been seriously injured in the past 12 months. This figure is up by 10% compared with the previous 12 months and up by 31% compared with 2019.

The ONISR suggests this rise is due to an increasing number of people in France using individual modes of transport for short journeys in town, as well as cycling for leisure in rural areas.

Cyclists, alongside pedestrians and users of light mobility vehicles, are considered to be ‘vulnerable’ road users who are often not at fault when collisions happen. 

Almost two-thirds of road deaths in France in 2025 involved drivers considered responsible for the accident, while just over a third were not at fault.

In light of the increasing number of cyclists, some areas in France are taking action to help keep bike-users safe. 

The department of Dordogne recently approved a new charter that sets guidelines for the design and construction of cycling infrastructure across the department.

It is intended to help local authorities create cycling routes that form a coherent network and are continuous, safe, comfortable and easy to understand.

*2019 is the year used as a reference point for the decade 2020-2030 by the Observatoire national interministériel de la sécurité routière.