The actions of public authorities to improve road safety in France have three orientations:​ drivers, roads and vehicles:​

• For drivers, the actions involve chiefly training, which is seen as part of an educational continuum starting in school and continuing throughout the driver’s life:​ this priority is reflected in the strengthening of the partnership with the Ministry of National Education, and in the development of post-license training programs and the reform of the driver’s license test.

The desire to mobilize all parties involved has led to communication efforts in the form of a national campaign and local actions.

Also, controls and penalties demonstrate their usefulness and the necessity that rules be respected

• The safety of infrastructures, the improvement of road signs and information for drivers are also important factors in improving road safety.
• The last orientation, technical regulations for vehicles, should further improve safety and also increase aids for driving using means of information as well as systems such as speed limiters that can be adapted by drivers.

These actions are only possible thanks to the development of a better understanding of accidentology and through strong local policies aiming at involving all State services and local communities as well as many associations in areas well beyond road safety in the strict sense.