Road deaths: October offers hope
- Published on 17/11/2025 14:46
- Modified on 17/11/2025 14:53
October figures from the ONISR show a notable decline in road fatalities and rekindle hopes of a collective wake-up to road risks.
According to the October 2025 figures published by the Observatoire national interministériel de la sécurité routière (ONISR), France has recorded a significant decrease in road mortality. An encouraging signal that fuels the idea that a collective awakening may be underway. In metropolitan France, 276 people lost their lives, compared with 318 a year earlier, i.e. 42 fewer deaths. Overseas, 16 deaths were recorded.
This improvement affects several user categories: motorists (-26 killed), powered two-wheelers (-10), pedestrians (-3) and EDPm users (-3). 18–24-year-olds, traditionally vulnerable, show a marked decrease (-19 killed), as do 25–64-year-olds (-27). Roads outside urban areas account for most of the decline. Conversely, fatalities have increased among cyclists (+7) as well as among under‑18s and those over 65 (+3 each).
An overall positive trend
Serious injuries follow a similar trend with 1,342 victims, or -2% compared with October 2024. The improvements mainly concern motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. The increases observed among cyclists (+5%) and EDPm users (+18%) accompany the rise of these individual mobility modes.
Over a 12-month period, indicators remain close to those of 2019, the reference year. Some signals remain positive: motorcyclist mortality down (-8%), young adults (-8%) and motorists (-3%). The increase in bicycle fatalities (+18% since 2019) reflects a rapidly expanding practice, both in cities and in rural areas.
The number of seriously injured has risen slightly year-on-year (+3%), driven notably by cyclists and EDPm users. Pedestrians, meanwhile, see their serious injuries fall by 16% compared with 2019, an encouraging point.
If October’s figures are not sufficient to conclude a lasting improvement, they offer an encouraging signal: that increased vigilance and a collective sense of responsibility could gradually transform our roads into safer spaces for everyone.
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This page is translated from the original post "Mortalité routière : octobre entretient l’espoir" in French.
