Roads, airports, rail networks... The French are less and less satisfied with their infrastructure

While more than half of French people declared themselves satisfied with the country's infrastructure two years ago, there will only be 38% in 2023. This is the main information noted by Ipsos in its annual Global Infrastructure Index survey published, this Monday October 30. A plummeting average, which was at 53% in 2021, during the last study on the subject, but which is nevertheless higher than that of the G7 countries (33%) and all European countries (32%) . Airports, roads, rail networks or even flood protection systems... What are the areas that cause the most concern among the French? This is the question asked by the global market researcher.

Unsurprisingly, a certain number of infrastructures benefit from a constant or even increasing level of satisfaction. This is particularly the case for communication technologies (64% versus 50%), the rail network (52% versus 41%) and the secondary road network (50% versus 44%). Another example: the opinion of the French regarding their airports is quite similar in 2021 and in 2023, with a satisfaction rate which increased from 67 to 66% in two years. “Transport shows a good score, as do technological and telecommunications tools. Proof that the investments made in recent years are bearing fruit,” explains Alexandre Guérin, general manager of Ipsos France, who uses the example of the development of fiber throughout the country as a key factor in the satisfaction of the French with their infrastructure. .

But then, how can we explain that the French are less and less satisfied with their infrastructure? Precisely because, on the contrary, certain infrastructures display a low level of satisfaction. Two elements pull the French average down, with only 41% of French people saying they are satisfied or very satisfied with alternative energies, like solar and wind - due to lack of investment -, and above all 28% only through charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. “The network of charging stations in France remains very unsatisfactory for the French,” confirms Thierry Lalande, automotive and mobility director Ipsos France, who emphasizes that this is undoubtedly the reason why they are still “few to convert to electric vehicle".

“Somewhere, we are quite well positioned regarding so-called “historic” transport infrastructures, we are very good on roads and airports, a little less good on rail but as soon as we talk about charging stations for example, the satisfaction rate drops to 28%,” notes Alexandre Guérin. The general director of Ipsos France evokes the double problem, on the one hand “the complexity of use” and on the other “the theme of financing” of these infrastructures. And to mention other studies carried out by Ipsos, which already pointed out in 2022 that “one in two French people thought that the electric car would not be a sustainable phenomenon”, while today, “we are in a world where we are starting to see climate change in a tangible way.”

On this subject, the study underlines that the French “see a priority source of investment” in solar energy (for 38%), at the same level as water supply, and ahead of flood defense systems (37 %) and nuclear energy (30%). For more than half of them, “investing represents an important contribution to the fight against climate change”. This is still less than the world population (59%), but “the French are giving an increasingly important place to transition infrastructures, and recognize that we are not up to the level,” says Alexandre Guérin. According to Ipsos, 61% of French people also consider that infrastructure is not up to the challenge of climate change (59% worldwide) and 57% that their development is too slow (60% worldwide). “Historically, this is unheard of in France and globally,” notes the general director of Ipsos, who speaks of an ecological surge.