Road safety in Gironde is deteriorating. Since the beginning of June, nine people have already lost their lives in road accidents. Too much, for the prefect of the department who is sounding the alarm.
In two weeks, the number of deaths on the roads of Gironde in June is already significant. Nine people lost their lives in accidents. Pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists or motorists, all categories of users are concerned.
It was June 2. Four young people hit a tree after a chase in the Libourne area. None will survive. These are the first victims of this month of June, but unfortunately not the last.
On the road to Libourne, the traces of the accident were still visible the day after the incident.
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© Maria Laforcade France 3 Aquitaine
The number continues to climb as the days go by. A motorcyclist died on June 4, on the Bordeaux ring road, after an unverified overtaking of a heavy goods vehicle. The same day, the passenger of a utility vehicle also lost his life on the ring road. “The risky driving on the Bordeaux ring road by two drivers led to the untimely braking of one of the vehicles, responsible for the collision between two other vehicles”, explains Etienne Guyot, the prefect of Gironde.
On June 5, a pedestrian died after being hit by a tram in Bordeaux. A cyclist died from these injuries on June 9, after being crushed a week earlier by a truck turning right.
On the last day of May, a pedestrian was the victim of an accident with a utility vehicle which was reversing. A dramatic count which worries the authorities and road safety associations.
On June 14, the Gironde prefecture raised a “cry of alarm”. “Enough !”he says. “The prefect calls on all road users, drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, to radically change their behavior, to pay more attention to others”indicates the prefecture, in a press release.
For the prefecture, the observation is clear: the lack of attention, risky behavior and attitudes “irresponsible”, are the cause of these deaths. “Be extra careful, look to each side, watch out for blind spots, moderate your speed, don’t do anything else while driving…: in short, be more responsible!” insists the prefect.
Between January and June, 32 people lost their lives on the roads of Gironde. This is 13% more than in 2023. A figure that is a clear increase compared to the previous year. In 2023, the department recorded 70 deaths following accidents. And already, excessive or inappropriate speed was involved in half of fatal accidents.
