Rudy Salles, Member of Parliament for Alpes-Maritimes, Deputy Mayor of Nice, is also one of the members of the Information Mission on the analysis of the causes of traffic accidents and road safety prevention. In this capacity, he presented the proposals that this commission will submit to the Prime Minister to improve the current situation which, although improved compared to the past, still has shortcomings and deficiencies. In short, there are too many accidents and deaths, beyond all moral consequences or incurred costs. We present to you the summary of the report and all the recommended measures.
Introduction to road safety policy in France and Alpes-Maritimes (data from Ministry of the Interior and prefecture of AM)
Initiated in 1972, road safety has seen significant historical progress since 2003. Indeed, from 18,000 deaths in 1972, we reduced this number to 4,000 in 2010, while the number of vehicles increased by 2.5 times. In total, since 1972, 306,000 lives would have been saved. Over time, the proactive and ambitious policy in this area has led to many improvements. But it was in 2003 that the mortality rate significantly dropped by 20%.
At that time, President Chirac declared the fight against road mortality a national cause. Drastic measures were enacted, such as the automation of speed control, the end of leniency for road code violations, the passing of the law against road violence, and the implementation of an effective policy combining prevention and repression.
In this decade, the number of deaths was halved. However, the trend has recently reversed with poor figures at the beginning of 2011. Reflecting the situation in France, the Alpes-Maritimes, between January and May 2011, witnessed an increase in road deaths, although the overall number of accidents fell compared to the same period in 2010: Compared to 2010, 63 fewer accidents and 4 more deaths, totaling 872 bodily accidents and 26 deaths.
The 39 proposals of the Mission
Faced with this worrying trend and the public’s poor perception of the removal of radar signs, the government has decided to take control by asking parliamentarians to explore all possible avenues in order to propose a report, or rather a toolbox of measures, to improve road safety by working on 6 axes:
Information and education
Consultation
Objectivity in decision-making
Transparency: users must not doubt the State’s intentions
Equity in penalties: they must be perceived as fair
Comprehensiveness: road safety policy must be envisioned as a whole
The most emblematic proposals:
In terms of penalties:
Proposition by Rudy Salles: modify penalties for speeding less than 10 km/h on highways and expressways with just a fine and not a fine along with a points deduction.
Reclassify speeding over 50 km/h as a criminal offense, not just an infraction, from the first violation, regardless of the road on which it is committed.
In terms of structures:
Create a High Commission for Road Safety attached to the Prime Minister. Currently, the inter-ministerial delegate is only attached to the Minister of the Interior, focusing almost exclusively on repression. A high commissioner, represented by a charismatic and media-friendly personality, could coordinate collaborative inter-ministerial work and also bring together the different stakeholders in this field of expertise.
Proposition by Rudy Salles: create a departmental road safety commission presided over by the Prefect, involving local actors (law enforcement, equipment, associations, users, elected officials, and local authorities). It should be noted that 72% of road deaths occur in rural areas, highlighting the importance of departmental roads. This commission would aim to identify black spots in the infrastructure and position new radars. It would also be responsible for road clarity. Too often, speed limits are highly anarchic, and this needs rationalization. Lastly, this commission would also address certain issues, such as lighting of certain infrastructure sections based on local needs.
Reestablish the National Road Safety Council which hasn’t met since 2008. This national road safety assembly would provide real support for the actions of the High Commissioner, particularly in the context of the social acceptance of proposed measures.
Fight against alcoholism:
Require each driver to have a breathalyzer in their vehicle. Increase from six to eight the points deduction for driving with more than 0.80 grams of alcohol per liter of blood.
Driving license points:
Increase the number of license points from twelve to fifteen after nine years of good conduct, including a three-year probationary period.
Equipment:
Promote at the European level the idea of vehicle speed limiting.
Continue and diversify the deployment of radars, particularly section radars. In AM, since 2004, 13 fixed radars have been installed, including 7 in Nice. By 2012, 11 new installations are planned.
Evaluate red light cameras before continuing their development. 20 red light cameras, including 8 in Nice. By 2012, 6 new installations are planned.
Facilitate identification with a larger license plate.
Generalize the installation on new vehicles of speed limiters adapting to allowed speed limits (LAVIA system) from January 1, 2018.
Move towards a gradual modification regarding phone use while driving and promote integrated equipment with voice commands.
Motorcycles:
Generalize ABS braking for motorcycles. Implement a technical inspection during resale after four years for motorcycles.
Prevention:
Generalize road education in high school. Promote access to the driving license within the framework of the apprenticeship contract. Alert drivers on their driving fitness through their general practitioner.
Eliminate level crossings. Further protect pedestrian crossings. Evaluate two-way cycle paths.
Prospects and evolutions:
The 39 proposals represent a toolbox filled with ideas and concrete, achievable proposals.
This summary document of the Parliamentary Information Mission aims to provide a list of tools to the government, allowing them to pick and choose as needed according to budgetary constraints.
However, this excellent summary document should not be considered an end in itself, but the first step in the government’s new road safety policy. This document and the described proposals cannot and especially should not remain fixed in this parliamentary work. In my opinion, it should be brought to life, refined, and especially completed.
Proposals by Rudy Salles:
Pedagogy: in high school, create a mandatory subject for the BAC on road safety.
Light motor vehicles: create a common legislative framework between two-wheelers, three-wheelers, spyders, trikers, and quads. Thus, all these hybrid vehicles will have the same legislative framework in road safety measures. Since January 1, all holders of a B license are required to complete at least 7 hours of driving lessons to use these vehicles…
If contravened, anyone who has not completed this mandatory training will have to pay a category 4 fine, €135. Even if this measure is a first step forward in trying to regulate these categories under a common administrative and legislative logic, the road is still long. Indeed, the power of three-wheelers is still not limited and poses problems for road safety stakeholders.
Europe: promote file cross-checking for the use of automatic radars between European countries.
