Zero tolerance for road offenders

The prefect launched an appeal for responsibility and announced a tightening of sanctions. According to the state representative: 'Road insecurity is not tolerable. The irresponsible behavior of road offenders brings its share of victims every day in the department. Since the beginning of the year, 812 license suspensions have been handed down following checks carried out by internal security forces, representing an 8% increase compared to last year.'

HIGH SPEED

Tolérance zéro pour les délinquants de la route

In 2024, deaths among two-wheel users outnumbered drivers. The number of people killed on two-wheelers is rising sharply (+38% compared to 2023) and accounts for 48% of fatalities in 2024 (compared to 36% in 2023). The prefect added: 'The sharpest increase concerns offenses related to excessive speeding (+45% compared to last year), representing 175 license confiscations since the start of the year. License suspensions linked to drug use are also up by more than 4%, with 380 confiscations since the start of the year.' Speed-related accidents increased significantly in the Var. In 2024, this factor was present in 42% of fatal accidents (compared to 32% in 2023) and in 21% of accidents causing bodily injury (compared to 20% in 2023). This led to 3,270 administrative suspensions of driving licenses (a slight decrease of -1% compared to 2023). However, there is a significant share of suspensions due to driving under the influence of drugs (41%), closely followed by alcohol (37%), pointing to a worrying shift in behavior. Speeding (20%) remains stable.

1,000 VEHICLES IMPOUNDED

Faced with these increases, the prefect of the Var will tighten administrative restrictions by extending license suspension periods. Furthermore, during the first two months of the year, over 1,000 vehicles were impounded or seized. This notably includes the aforementioned offenses but also driving without a license, driving without insurance, repeat offenses... 'Some vehicles have also been confiscated. Dying at the wheel or on a motorcycle is not acceptable. It is not inevitable. Taking the road to get to work, go away for the weekend, or pick up a child from school is not trivial. It requires acting responsibly by respecting the basic rules of the road,' warned Philippe Mahé.

THE NUMBER OF ROAD DEATHS INCREASED IN THE VAR IN 2024:

62 people died (compared to 59 in 2023), including:

• 22 motorists, • 29 motorized two-wheel users, • 3 cyclists, • 6 pedestrians, • 2 other categories (coach and electric wheelchair).

In the Var, it should also be noted for 2024:

• an 8% increase in the number of accidents causing bodily injury: 866 compared to 804 in 2023, • stability in the number of injured: 1,120 compared to 1,111 in 2023.