Nearly half of French people fear a road accident linked to alcohol on New Year's Eve, a concern that is on the rise, estimates the Road Safety in its latest barometer presented this Friday, December 27.
As New Year's Eve approaches quickly, the Road Safety association, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is working for the 15th year on education and prevention messages linked to the festive New Year's Eve evening. Questioned in late November-early December to establish the 2024 barometer, 21% of French people responded that they would take their car to travel on New Year's Eve.
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“We have 42% of French people who tell us that they are afraid on New Year's Eve of seeing an alcohol-related road accident occur. This figure used to be around 20% and it has really increased a lot over the last three years”, stressed the new General Delegate for Road Safety, Sophy Sainten, during a press conference.
According to the 2023 figures published by the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory, 29% of fatal accidents involve a drunk driver and 65% of fatal accidents with alcohol occur at night. On December 24 and 25, 2023, 11 people died. “It's a real cause for concern for us […] because alcohol is still on the New Year's Eve menu for 78% of French people,” worries Sophy Sainten, who points out a rate that is not very variable compared to 2023.
On the other hand, the general delegate notes that “the party has changed a little” while “people are going out less” and are staying at home more “in small groups”.
High alcohol consumption and bad solutions
But what does not change, insists the Road Safety, is the number of drinks considered consumed during this evening – or “about three drinks” – and also on the heavy alcohol consumption: “10% of French people say they consume more than eight drinks”.
Three-quarters (67.8%) of French people “suggest unsuitable solutions for getting home after drinking”, such as driving slowly, taking small roads, taking a mint, drinking a coffee or waiting before getting behind the wheel, underlines the Prevention road.
But according to the barometer, 48% of French people, or one in two, are unaware of the time needed to eliminate a glass of alcohol. It takes two hours to eliminate a glass of alcohol consumed.