Governance and socio-territorial disparities in French overseas regions and corsica − impact on road safety issues
Abstract
Background: Road safety in France's overseas territories remains poorly documented due to fragmented and delayed data collection. Although these territories account for only about 3% of the French population, they are strategically important, and exhibit marked socio-demographic and spatial heterogeneity.
Objective: This study examines differences in road fatality risk between France's overseas territories and a comparable metropolitan island region, Corsica, and identifies key risk factors across these territories. Methods: Descriptive analyses characterise regional contexts, while a multivariate logistic model estimates the probability of fatal crashes, controlling for casualty, behaviour, crash, socio-economic factors and regional diversity. Regional-specific models capture local heterogeneity. Results: The results show that regional differences persist after adjustment. The odds ratios (OR) for fatal accidents are highest in Guadeloupe (OR = 2.24) and French Guiana (OR = 2.29), and lowest in Réunion (OR = 1.70) and Martinique (OR = 1.76). Accidents occurring in sparsely populated areas, at night, on major roads and involving vulnerable road users are more likely to be fatal. Regional-specific models largely confirm these trends, despite reduced statistical power and with some local variations. The role of socio-territorial deprivation appears to vary across regions. This suggests that the relationships between social vulnerability, population density and mobility conditions are complex and require nuanced, locally grounded analyses, to be fully understood. Conclusion: These findings underline the need for region-specific road safety strategies. Improved data quality, enhanced governance and equitable mobility solutions are essential to reduce fatalities and bring regional safety in line with national standards.
Related
- First in situ photograph of the genus Protogrammus (Callionymidae) and first record of Protogrammus cf. alboranensis for French waters (Corsica)
- Gastrointestinal parasites and molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia sp. in ruminants and other domestic animals in Corsica (France), a Mediterranean island environment.
- Overview of the threats to the fauna and flora of the French overseas territories: insights from the National Red List
- Territorial African wood-doves respond differently to intruders with higher and lower frequency of songs
- Novel use of ink by territorial males in the coastal squid Heterololigo bleekeri.
BibTeX
@article{haddak2026governance,
title = {{Governance and socio-territorial disparities in French overseas regions and corsica − impact on road safety issues}},
author = {Mohamed Mouloud Haddak and Bouthayna Hayou},
journal = {Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.1016/j.trip.2026.102076},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05785913v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Governance and socio-territorial disparities in French overseas regions and corsica − impact on road safety issues
AU - Mohamed Mouloud Haddak
AU - Bouthayna Hayou
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/26
JO - Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives
DO - 10.1016/j.trip.2026.102076
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05785913v1
AB - Background: Road safety in France's overseas territories remains poorly documented due to fragmented and delayed data collection. Although these territories account for only about 3% of the French population, they are strategically important, and exhibit marked socio-demographic and spatial heterogeneity. Objective: This study examines differences in road fatality risk between France's overseas territories and a comparable metropolitan island region, Corsica, and identifies key risk factors across these territories. Methods: Descriptive analyses characterise regional contexts, while a multivariate logistic model estimates the probability of fatal crashes, controlling for casualty, behaviour, crash, socio-economic factors and regional diversity. Regional-specific models capture local heterogeneity. Results: The results show that regional differences persist after adjustment. The odds ratios (OR) for fatal accidents are highest in Guadeloupe (OR = 2.24) and French Guiana (OR = 2.29), and lowest in Réunion (OR = 1.70) and Martinique (OR = 1.76). Accidents occurring in sparsely populated areas, at night, on major roads and involving vulnerable road users are more likely to be fatal. Regional-specific models largely confirm these trends, despite reduced statistical power and with some local variations. The role of socio-territorial deprivation appears to vary across regions. This suggests that the relationships between social vulnerability, population density and mobility conditions are complex and require nuanced, locally grounded analyses, to be fully understood. Conclusion: These findings underline the need for region-specific road safety strategies. Improved data quality, enhanced governance and equitable mobility solutions are essential to reduce fatalities and bring regional safety in line with national standards.
SN - 2590-1982
ER -