Young drivers take more risks behind the wheel

At the wheel, risk level, youth bonus. European drivers under 35 engage in far more risky driving behaviors than the average driver across all generations, found the 13th Responsible Driving Barometer of the Vinci Autoroutes Foundationreleased on Tuesday.

These results are particularly significant among young men, who are much more likely than average to use their smartphone while driving, 23% even watching videos while driving. Nearly a third of drivers aged 16 to 24 “do not wear seat belts”, which is compulsory, notes the barometer, which conducted its survey of 12,400 people in 11 European countries.

The use of drugs, alcohol or medication before driving is also much more common among young people, especially men. While 7% of European drivers say they have driven drunk during the year, this figure rises to 20% among those under 35. The same goes for the consumption of cannabis or other drugs: 5% of respondents say they have driven under the influence, but 17% of those under 35 years old.

Small speeding offenses not penalized by a deduction of points

In parallel with this study, the road prevention association denounces a “State which, blinded by other considerations, seems to have lost sight of its commitment to halve road mortality”

The association invites everyone in particular to slow down to allow “an acceptable, even appreciated and requested return” to 80km/h on departmental roads and to the generalization of 30km/h in urban areas. “Two simple rules, readable and so easy to respect that the, so badly named, small excesses would no longer even have to be”, insists its president Anne Lavaud.

Road Prevention points in a column published on Wednesday to a State “blinded by other considerations and which seems to have lost sight of its commitment” to achieve its objective of halving the number of victims on the road in 2030.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced in mid-April that minor speeding less than 5 km/h would no longer be penalized by deducting points from January 1, 2024. According to figures from Road Safety, in 2022 , 3,260 people died on the roads of mainland France. A balance sheet at a stable level (+0.5%) compared to 2019, the last reference year before the pandemic.

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