Road safety: road deaths down by 5% in September

In August 2025, a fire broke out at an apartment in the Fleur de Canne residence in Petit-Bourg, Guadeloupe. Emergency services found three bodies inside: a 34-year-old woman, her 17-year-old daughter, and a 52-year-old man. Initial investigation suggests the incident was a double murder followed by the presumed perpetrator’s suicide. This case occurred three months after another tragedy in Saint-Martin, where a 51-year-old woman was found dead in Quartier d’Orléans. Her former partner was arrested, and an aggravated murder investigation was launched. According to a recent national study published by the French Interior Ministry, both Guadeloupe and Saint-Martin recorded one death related to domestic violence in 2025, matching their 2024 totals. However, Saint-Martin's rate of 3.16 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants ranks highest nationally, far above the national average of 0.19. Guadeloupe's rate stands at 0.26. It should be noted that such statistics can be skewed in smaller territories, where even a single death significantly impacts the rate. Across overseas departments, ten individuals lost their lives due to domestic violence in 2025. Reunion Island had the highest number with three victims, followed by Guyana and New Caledonia with two each. Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin, and French Polynesia each recorded one victim. In contrast, Martinique and Mayotte reported no such deaths. Nationally, 136 people were killed by their partners or ex-partners in 2025, a slight decrease from 138 in the previous year. However, this includes more female victims, 111 in 2025 compared to 107 in 2024, an increase of 4 percent. Women accounted for 82 percent of all victims, while the number of male victims dropped from 31 to 25. On average, one person dies every three days due to domestic violence in France. The study also highlights that 41 of the 111 women who died had previously experienced violence from their partners or ex-partners, some of which had been reported to authorities. Most fatalities occur within the home of either the victim or the perpetrator, often during disputes or following unsuccessful separations. The impact of these incidents extends beyond the immediate victims. In 2025, nine children were affected by such violence, though specific details remain unclear. Separately, road safety data shows a 5 percent decline in traffic-related deaths in September 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, with 268 fatalities recorded. This marks three consecutive months of declining road mortality, according to the Interior Ministry. However, cyclist deaths increased by 14, and two-wheeler fatalities rose by five. In overseas territories, traffic deaths slightly increased, with three additional fatalities compared to September 2025. Overall, the third quarter of 2026 saw a 12 percent reduction in traffic deaths nationwide compared to the same period in 2025.