Overview
- Sécurité routière counts 445 bodily-injury crashes involving licence-free microcars in 2024, up 48% year over year with mortality doubling in five years.
- An MMA crash test of a 425 kg vehicle at 50 km/h showed catastrophic deformation and outcomes consistent with at least one death and one severe injury in a frontal impact.
- Adolescent use has expanded, with eight victims aged 14 to 17 between 2022 and 2024 and only an AM permit after eight hours of training required from age 14.
- In 2024 crashes involving these vehicles, 13% of tested drivers were positive for alcohol and 11% for narcotics, according to Sécurité routière.
- Roughly 282,560 licence-free microcars are on French roads, and insurers and safety officials are urging greater awareness and respect for road rules.