Antoine Bienvault // Crédit photo : LOUAI BARAKAT / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP
11:24 a.m., November 1, 2024
Road violence continues to regularly make the news. Once mentioned, the creation of a “road homicide” is today at a standstill. Blame it on the dissolution of the National Assembly last June. But some MPs intend to bring the matter up to date.
The trial of the driver who fatally mowed down Antoine Alleno is being held in Paris. The latter appeared for “manslaughter”, the term currently in force in the context of traffic offenses of this type. Because, despite the promises and the will of parliamentarians, the creation of a “road homicide” demanded by numerous victims' associations has still not seen the light of day.
Setbacks
However, it was off to a good start. First voted on at first reading in the Assembly in January, the text was suspended after the dissolution of the hemicycle in June. An unfortunate setback for the families of victims who have long called for a reclassification of this type of crime.
“An individual who drives at 160 km/h, or who is drunk, for the victims’ families, it is not understandable that this is qualified as involuntary homicide,” protests Jerôme Moreau, vice-president. President of France victim. “It is secondary victimization which does not reflect the reality of the facts,” he continues at the microphone of Europe 1.
The deputies determined to pass this law
Praised by the entire political class at first reading, the bill should soon return to the table of parliamentarians, as explained by the text's rapporteur, MP LR Éric Pauget. “The lights are green. I have assurances from the Ministers of Justice and Relations with Parliament. We will be able to re-inscribe the text in December or January. It is a text which, in my opinion, will come to an end, because no one questions the idea of creating road homicide in the Penal Code”, insists the elected official.
If the law is adopted, it could push magistrates to impose harsher sentences on perpetrators of this type of crime.
