French lawmakers finalise new 鈥榙riving homicide鈥� offence after campaign by grieving families
New offence will not increase penalties for under-the-influence drivers but bring relief to victims
Around 700 young people died due to road accidents last year
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A new criminal offence of 鈥榬oad homicide鈥� is set to be introduced in France after it was approved in a final vote by Senators.
The offence 鈥� homicide routier in French 鈥� will be available to prosecutors for incidents where a fatal road accident is caused by a driver who has concurrently committed another offence, such as driving without a licence or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Current rules only allow for homicide involontaire - or manslaughter - charges to be pressed, a point of consistent chagrin for the families of victims.
However, the new offence will keep the same penalties as those in place for homicide involontaire 鈥� a maximum prison sentence of seven years in the case of one aggravating offence, or ten years for several, as well as a fine of between 鈧�100,000 and 鈧�150,000.
In cases where no additional offences have taken place alongside the accident, homicide involontaire will continue to be used, which comes with a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of up to 鈧�75,000.
Families fought for change
Families of road-accident victims have fought for several years to change the charges brought against those who cause road accidents when driving under the influence or committing another crime.
The issue became a national talking point in 2023 after several major fatal road accidents in quick succession.
These included the death of three police officers killed after a collision with an intoxicated driver, and the death of a pregnant woman after her vehicle was hit by actor Pierre Palmade when he was driving under the influence of cocaine.
The change is 鈥渁 significant step forward,鈥� said Michelin-star chef Yannick All茅no, whose son was killed by a drunk driver in a collision in May 2022.
鈥淸My son] was hit by this drunk car thief, and I was told 鈥榶our child's killer will be charged with manslaughter,鈥� meaning that it was considered an accident,鈥� All茅no told the public service broadcaster .
鈥淧eople who choose to drink, take drugs, or drive a car voluntarily, and who ultimately do the worst, will [now] be considered road criminals,鈥� he added.
Around 700 young people were killed in road accidents last year, said the chef, making it the leading cause of death for minors in France.
Around 84% of the perpetrators were male.
The law still needs to be signed by President Emmanuel Macron to take effect, but this could happen in the coming days.
