After the death of a 74-year-old pedestrian, hit by a car on a protected crossing, on December 4, a tribute and an awareness-raising action were organized this Saturday, December 14, at the scene of the tragedy, by the associations Vélocité, Montpellier on foot and the League against road violence.
“Shocked” et “angry”. These are the first words spoken, this Saturday, December 14, by the associations Vélocité, Montpellier à pied and the League against road violence, during the tribute to the 74-year-old pedestrian who died on Wednesday, December 4, knocked down by a car on a protected passage. A gathering organized at the end of the morning at the scene of the accident, avenue François-Delmas, the main axis linking Corum to Castelnau-le-Lez, in Montpellier.
“Motorized violence that has become commonplace”
Many members came to show their solidarity with the victim’s family, and to express their emotion following this new road tragedy. Pedestrians and cyclists united in this action. “We are too often victims of motorized violence. Violence that has become commonplace. 42% of pedestrians killed are killed on protected crossings”reveal the successive speeches, which call for “fundamental right to security” for these vulnerable users of public roads.
The associations take note of the Street Sharing Guide recently presented by the Montpellier Metropolis, but ask “effective controls and regular verbalizations”. “The zero accident objective must be a concrete objective. It was successfully implemented in Oslo”recalls a spokesperson for Vélocité. “In 2024, it is unacceptable to die crossing the street”.
Cars at 62 km/h instead of 50 at this location
“In Montpellier, many places have been identified as dangerous for pedestrians. Like in front of Rimbaud Park (in the Aubes district, Editor’s note), where many children pass”observes Dominique Ripert, of the Montpellier à pied association. The pedestrian crossing where the tragedy occurred on December 4 is also a black spot. “This route is taken by many pedestrians who are going to take the tram. There are houses just behind. Here, the speed is limited to 50 km/h and not 30. It’s a bad signal. But what’s more , measurements taken at this location show that 15% of motorists go at more than 62 km/h!”
Hélène Quillaud, vice-president of Vélocité, deplores both “a behavioral problem” motorists, with “30 km/h not respected in town”but also “development problems” for the protection of cyclists and pedestrians.
This Saturday, the participants ended their action with a “die-in”, by symbolically lying down on the pedestrian crossing, and tracing their silhouettes with chalk. A way of leaving a visible trace of their demands.
A family in mourning and in shock
On Wednesday, December 4, it was around 5:30 p.m. when a 74-year-old woman, accompanied by her 9-year-old grandson, was hit by a car while crossing this pedestrian crossing on Avenue François-Delmas. Despite the treatment provided on site by emergency services, she succumbed to her injuries. The little boy stays “very shocked” by the scene he witnessed, indicates Me Ivan Martin-Gros, the lawyer for the victim’s family, a civil party. “He is a child who suffers from mild autistic disorders. On the day of the accident, his grandmother went to pick him up from the leisure center and took him home to his parents, who live nearby. He too was a direct victim of the shock. He was thrown and fell on his left leg. He was examined by forensic medicine.. The driver of the car, a 32-year-old from Lunel, was placed under judicial control, with a driving ban. Negative on the alcohol test, he refused to take the blood test intended to check the possible absorption of drugs. According to our information, drugs were discovered during the search carried out at his home.
Swiss
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