As New Year's Eve approaches on December 31, there is growing concern among the French. In fact, 42% fear a road accident linked to alcohol, reveals the latest Road Prevention barometer, presented on Friday. “This figure before was more around 20% and it has really increased a lot over the last three years,” underlined Sophy Sainten, new general delegate of the association.
Despite the known risks, alcohol remains omnipresent in New Year's celebrations. According to the barometer, 78% of French people consume alcohol on New Year's Eve, a stable proportion compared to the previous year. The average remains around three glasses, but 10% of participants say they consume more than eight. These figures are worrying in a context where, in 2023, 29% of fatal accidents involved an alcoholic driver, according to the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory.
Changing festive behaviors
“This is a real concern for us […] because alcohol remains on the New Year’s Eve menu for 78% of French people,” added Sophy Sainten. However, habits are changing slightly: big parties are giving way to evenings in small groups. “The party has changed a little, people will go out less and stay at home more,” observes Sophy Sainten. But this change does not reduce dangerous behavior on the roads.
Despite awareness, preconceived ideas about ways to neutralize the effects of alcohol persist. “Three quarters of French people suggest unsuitable solutions for getting home after drinking,” warns Road Safety. Driving slowly, taking small roads, drinking coffee or having a mint are among the strategies mentioned. Furthermore, a lack of awareness of the effects of alcohol fuels these risky behaviors: nearly 48% of French people are unaware that it takes around two hours to eliminate a glass of alcohol.
Reinforced mobilization
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Prévention Road association, which continues its commitment with targeted awareness campaigns for New Year's Eve, as it has done for 15 years. The objective remains to remind people that drunk driving is an avoidable danger factor.
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In 2023, the holiday period has already been marked by 11 road deaths on December 24 and 25, highlighting the urgency of prevention. “The fight against accidents linked to drunk driving remains a priority for us, and we will continue to mobilize all means to reduce these tragedies,” concluded Sophy Sainten.
