[Epidemiology of traffic accidents in France]

The prevalence of deaths due to traffic accidents in France is approximately 20/100,000 inhabitants (1988). This places France 9th in Europe. Sixty-five percent of the accident population are between 16 and 65 years old. Sixty-three percent of deaths occur in people who are in passenger cars, while 11% are pedestrians. There were six deaths for every 100 accidents in 1988. The number of corporal accidents and deaths were 22.6% and 37.2%, respectively, on turnpikes, 31.3% and 47.2%, on rural roads, and 46.1% and 15.6% on urban networks. The two most commonly incriminated factors were speeding and drunken driving. Speeding was responsible for one out of six deaths on turnpikes and national roads, one out of two on urban and rural roads. Costs were 53,000,000 FF in 1988, 47,000,000 FF going in work compensations and lost working days. Prevention measures include improvement of supervision of road networks, especially in rural areas, more severe fines with reinforced fool-proof paying conditions, mandatory seat-belts for passengers in the front and back of cars, as well as continuous education for drivers.