Danger on the roads

According to the Sécurité Routière (road safety) report, 17 people have already died in traffic accidents since the start of the year as opposed to 15 at the same time last year. An alarming number of those were innocent bystanders and pedestrians as drivers in the Riviera continue to ignore walkers´ right of way and drink-driving legislation. The report shows that four deaths this year were pedestrians.

Last month alone, six people were killed on Alpes Maritimes roads. Excessive speed, drugs and alcohol have all been cited as main causes of the accidents. One innocent person was killed after a motorcyclist actually lost control of his bike while doing a 'wheelie' in the street.

Indeed, those driving two-wheeled vehicles make up a worryingly high number of the victims. Over half of all those who have died have been driving a scooter or motorbike. According to the French Vehicle Registration database, more people than ever before are buying two wheeled transport in the Riviera. In the past 12 months, one out of four vehicles purchased in the region has been a motorised scooter. Statistics show that the number of scooter related deaths are up by 46 per cent – a substantial hike from the 2011 figures.

Elsa Carpenter