La Réunion Island suffers from a monopoly of the all-car. Private cars dominate, accounting for 80-85% of daily journeys. Public transport - buses and the Saint-Denis cable car - only cover around 10% of mobility needs, while walking and cycling, although encouraged, remain limited. At present, residents have no choice but to use cars, motorbikes or buses, or to walk along roadsides, often at great risk. This lack of alternatives is fuelling a mobility crisis that is translating into alarming levels of road safety.

A country without trains, a financed project abandoned

Rail transport was in service on La Réunion Island. It came to a halt when construction of the first coastal road began. In the 2000s, a project to rebuild the rail network was well underway. Funding had been obtained and work was beginning. It was a response to traffic jams, the dangers of the road and the cost of importing fuel. The train was to run on electricity. The project was halted in 2010 by a local decision accepted by the French State, following a change in the presidency of the Regional Council. Didier Robert, President of the Region at the time, signed an agreement with the French State to reallocate the funds earmarked for the train to the Nouvelle Route du Littoral (NRL) project. This offshore road, which has been under construction for over a decade, remains unfinished, leaving the island with no alternative to the road network for travel outside its vicinity.

Modern roads, but dangerous behaviour

La Reunion Island’s road infrastructure is comparable to that of European countries, with a large number of kilometers of expressways. They encircle the island from Saint-Benoît to Saint-Pierre via Saint-Denis. These roads encourage speeding. Speed is much higher than in La Réunion’s neighbouring countries. Speed continues to cause tragedies. The vehicles imported to the island are all approved to travel at speeds in excess of 110 km/h, the maximum authorised speed. The entire fleet of approved vehicles is capable of breaking the law at the flick of the accelerator.
What’s more, alcohol is often the cause of accidents.

What can be done to reduce accidents?

Several measures specific to La Réunion could improve road safety:
Firstly, limiting the maximum speed of vehicles: by restricting imported cars to 90 km/h, we could significantly reduce the number of accidents. Speed reduces the time available to react to unforeseen circumstances. In the event of an impact, speed increases the damage: hitting a pedestrian at 60 kph is equivalent to a fall from several floors.
Secondly, introduce compulsory breathalysers to combat drink-driving: these devices, which are already compulsory on buses, could be extended to all cars to prevent drink-driving.
Lastly, investing in more and more frequent public transport is an option that is part and parcel of regional redevelopment. Revitalising the rail network and developing a genuine public transport system based around the railway line could reduce dependence on the car.

Political responsibility

Are the 90 km/h speed limit for motor vehicles and the breathalyser in all cars applicable in the current framework? If this is not the case, it is important to explore the possibilities for adaptation that may exist, and to seek ways of legalising such proposals in La Réunion Island.
The current situation on La Réunion Island is the result of a lack of long-term vision when it comes to mobility. While the abandonment of the rail project has exacerbated this crisis, it is still possible to take action to limit the risks taken by road users. By reducing speeds, combating drink-driving and developing alternatives to the car as the sole means of transport, the people of La Réunion would no longer have to rely on cars or motorbikes, with all the risks that entails: 34 deaths since the start of the year.
Each life lost on the roads is a reminder of the urgent need for measures tailored to the needs of the people of Réunion.

M.M.