Every year in France, Road Safety presents its crash barometer on our roads, month after month and year after year.

“Unintentional” murders despite the use of drugs and alcohol

In the absence of final figures for 2023, this is all we know for eleven months of the year, 2,846 deaths on the “roads” were recorded., which is 5% less than in the same period last year. After all, in 2022, 3,260 people died on the roads of France. About 700 of these deaths involved crashes involving at least one driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The most vivid tragedy that remains in everyone’s memory is, of course, the accident of February 2023 involving comedian Pierre Palmade, who, in a state of alcohol intoxication and cocaine, caused the death of an infant who was still in the mother’s womb. These facts caused outrage in the press and public opinion, prompting questions about the judicial system in order to change the legislation… So far, traffic accidents related to offenses (drugs, alcohol, speeding, etc.) were is considered “premeditated murder”.

To a more serious “road” murder?

But several associations challenged this classification, arguing that PreIntentional driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs cannot be characterized as “involuntary”. The Prime Minister at the time, Elizabeth Bourne, announced her intention to reclassify these alcohol and drug-related unintentional killings as “road murders”. She also wanted unintentional injuries to be called “traffic injuries.” this monday the text is discussed in the National Assembly for possible adoption. Unfortunately, it may not change much in reality. Because these possible changes only modify the terminology of the offense without increasing the sanctions. At the moment, they remain unchanged, but fines are possible reach 3 years of imprisonment (10 years in case of aggravating circumstances related to alcohol or drugs) and fines in the amount of 75,000 euros (150,000 euros in some cases).

Symbolic retraining, which, however, was welcomed by victims’ associations, for which the term “involuntary” did not work. The fact remains that most of them regret it the sanctions are still too softgiven the facts presented.

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