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Sad Trend: Increasing Number of Cyclist Fatalities - Infrastructure Fails to Keep Up with Growth
The number of cyclists killed in road traffic is rising and reached its highest level in 15 years with 474 victims in 2022. This marks a sad reversal in this area, as the number of car accident victims has been continuously decreasing for years, according to an analysis by Spiegel Online at the end of the year. Until 2013, the number of victims among cyclists had also been steadily decreasing.
The main reason for the increase in cyclist fatalities is the boom of the bicycle as the preferred mode of transportation. As the 2021 Bicycle Monitor indicates, 25 percent more Germans were already taking to the saddle at that time. The growth is especially exorbitant in major cities: In Munich, cycling traffic has increased by almost 40 percent since 2017, and in Hamburg by as much as 50 percent. This also leads to more frequent accidents. The number of deaths could therefore continue to rise with further growth.
Single Accidents: When Poor Infrastructure Leads to Falls
When looking for the causes of the accidents, it becomes clear that it is not the much-cited turning accidents, but 28 percent are so-called single accidents. These are attributed to inadequate cycling infrastructure, such as wet leaves, curbs, or tram tracks becoming traps. "Even without cars, there would be fatal cycling accidents," states accident researcher Sigfried Brockmann from the German Insurance Association to Spiegel. The association has analyzed 900 police reports on fatal cycling accidents from 2020 to 2022.
Mostly Cars or Trucks as Accident Opponents
In 33.6 percent of cases, the accident opponent is the cause, usually a car or a truck, primarily the notorious right-turning accidents, then ignoring right-of-way signs or making mistakes when turning left. Cyclists are often simply overlooked. In 38.5 percent of cases, the cyclists themselves are to blame, mostly due to ignoring right-of-way signs, making mistakes when merging into traffic, or violating the requirement to ride on the right.
Bicycle accidents most frequently occur in cities, though they are not the most severe or deadly. While Berlin, Leipzig, and Freiburg lead in frequency, the accidents result in less severe consequences compared to areas like the districts of Anhalt-Bitterfeld or Vechta. Higher speeds likely play a decisive role here.
Age as a Risk Factor
The most important risk factor for cyclists is age, with almost 60 percent of the injured cyclists being over 65 years old. Additionally, more men die than women, which might be linked to greater risk-taking behavior. Contrary to popular belief, however, e-bike riders are not more frequently affected, but rather average, even though the number rises proportionally with the absolute number of e-bikes. However, the number of older e-bike riders involved in accidents is noticeable; the risk significantly increases from age 75.
As countermeasures, the police and accident researchers mainly focus on making cyclists take responsibility, such as wearing helmets, being visible, and driving defensively. The ADFC counters this and insists on “forgiving cycling infrastructure,” as already exists in countries like the Netherlands or Scandinavia. In Holland or Finland, the “Vision Zero” goal is already much closer than it is here. Since 2007, Germany has been committed to “zero traffic fatalities,” but progress is lacking.
Legal Situation as an Obstacle: Fluidity of (Car) Traffic Has Priority
The legal situation is mainly obstructive, as the Road Traffic Act and Road Traffic Regulations focus on the lightness of traffic flow and its safety. A reform with minor improvements was recently blocked by the Bundesrat under the aegis of the Bavarian CSU government. Germany needs better cycling infrastructure, insists ADFC spokeswoman Stephanie Krone to Der Spiegel. The cycling club also calls for more 30 km/h zones within towns and 70 km/h on rural roads. Additionally, technology could help, such as automatic emergency brakes or turning assistants for trucks.
Translated automatically from German.
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