Graph: last month was deadliest August on French roads since 2011
Several prefectures are looking at ways to tackle rising fatality rate
August 2025 saw the highest number of road fatalities in a single month since 2017
Romberi/Shutterstock/VisActu
There were 341 fatalities recorded on French roads in August 2025, the highest for the summer month in more than a decade.
It is necessary to go back to August 2011 (370 deaths) to find a higher tally for the month.
The figures, covering all of mainland France, have been released by the Observatoire national interministériel de la sécurité routière based on the latest official estimates.
It is the highest monthly tally so far this year – narrowly beating the July figures of 338 deaths – and points towards a worrying rise in figures.
It is the highest fatality rate in France within a single month since July 2017 when 343 people died on the roads.
Compared to August 2024 (290 deaths), the fatality rate increased by 18%.
In addition, 1,601 people were seriously injured in road accidents across the country last month, a 1% increase on figures in August 2024.
The graph below allows you to compare monthly figures between 2011 and 2025.
In 2024, more than one-third of fatalities in France involved a driver who had consumed alcohol, drugs, or medication.
Compared to EU counterparties, France recorded above-average levels of road fatalities in 2024 according to data found in Statista.
Authorities recorded 48 deaths per million people compared to the EU average of 44.
However, Italy (51), Portugal (60) and Romania (77) recorded figures considerably above this, with Norway, Sweden and Denmark (16, 20, and 24 respectively) far below other members of the bloc.
Attempts to reduce fatalities
Authorities across France are looking at ways to tackle the worrying increase.
The Landes prefecture is considering suspending the licence of drivers caught using their mobile phones when behind the wheel, on top of the current penalties of a fine and points on a licence.
In the Dordogne, the prefecture will release monthly statistics on road accidents in an exercise they have named an ‘accidentoscope’, hoping the stark data will lead to drivers reducing dangerous behaviour.
