The National Assembly voted on Wednesday, January 31, in favor of adopting a bill aimed at creating “road homicide.”
Transpartisan vote Wednesday in the National Assembly. The 160 deputies who spoke all spoke in favor of the bill creating “road homicide”. This proposal also aims to combat road violence. From now on, it is in the Senate that the text will be studied. The creation of this “road homicide”, whereas until now, in the event of death occurring in an accident, it was a question of “involuntary homicide”, was promised last July by the former Prime Minister, Élisabeth Thick headed. At the time, several road accidents, including the media one involving comedian Pierre Palmade in February, had greatly stirred public opinion.
“This new qualification will make it possible to put ‘words to the evils’, but it will also allow magistrates to better judge those who, voluntarily drunk or drugged, have taken a life on the road,” said the co-rapporteur on Wednesday evening. of the text, Éric Pauget. But while some, like the lawyer specializing in road law Me Rémy Josseaume with franceinfo, believe that it is above all a “cosmetic reform”, what would the adoption of this text change? concretely ?
If the text is adopted as is in the Senate, the introduction of this new offense will in no way change the penalties incurred. Indeed, the term road homicide will above all replace the offense of “involuntary homicide with aggravating circumstances”. Just as was involuntary homicide with an aggravating circumstance, “road homicide” will be punishable by seven years in prison and a fine of 100,000 euros. From two cumulative aggravating circumstances, the sentence could be up to 10 years in prison (which corresponds to the maximum possible for an offense) and a fine of 150,000 euros.
However, the text will still make it possible to broaden the range of “aggravating circumstances”. Previously, these circumstances referred to driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, driving without a license and speeding over 50 km/h. The bill adds the use of a cell phone while driving, failure to assist a person in danger and driving under the influence of legal psychoactive substances (such as medication or nitrous oxide). The text also plans to increase speeding to 30 km/h instead of 50 km/h.
Another change brought about by this bill is the increase in the number of additional penalties which includes the confiscation of the vehicle with which the accident was committed. And this, even if it belongs to a third person. Also, the text plans to make sentencing mandatory in the event of alcohol or drug consumption. The suspension of the driving license will also be extended with the possibility of canceling it and not being able to repeat it for 10 years.
