Bicycle Injury and Fatality Statistics During the Pandemic
Fatality Statistics During the Pandemic
The authors of the study concluded that the benefits of cycling outweighed the risks, although bike-related injuries increased during the pandemic. The most common type of injury was a soft tissue injury, with fewer severe injuries. Overall, the study suggests that bicycle accidents are a serious problem, and further research is needed to determine the causes of bike-related deaths. To learn more, read the full article.
The number of cyclist deaths has fallen steadily in recent years, with the average age of pedalcyclists doubling from 42 in 2010 to 48 in 2019. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tracks cyclist fatalities and reports on these incidents. In 2019, Texas, California, and Florida had the highest percentage of fatal crashes involving cyclists. The number of pedalcyclists killed in each of these states is also increasing, with Florida and Delaware reporting the highest rates of bicycle deaths per 100,000 residents. Compared to the United States as a whole, Tucson and Jacksonville, FL had the lowest rates of fatal bike collisions.
As the number of cars on the road decreased, bicycle fatalities also fell, and there were fewer car-pedestrian collisions. However, cyclist deaths were higher than those caused by pedestrian accidents, but still higher than non-cyclist fatalities. The deaths were more likely to be the result of speeding compared to bike crashes. During the pandemic, alcohol use may have increased. The NHTSA reported a nine percent increase in alcohol-related accidents in 2020. Large trucks are also more common on the road, and this translates into a high risk of death for a bicycle accident.
Bicycle Injury and Fatality Statistics During the Pandemic
Bicycle injuries and fatalities are declining, but traffic was still high. One reason for this may be the increased number of motorists who were speeding. According to NHTSA, drivers engaged in alcohol-related accidents rose by nearly nine percent in 2020. Meanwhile, the number of large trucks on the road was higher. Consequently, the risk of bicycle accidents with a large truck rose.
The decrease in vehicle crashes was accompanied by a reduction in the number of cyclists. The study found that the number of bicycle accidents remained relatively low, but the number of pedestrians and cyclists was higher. There was also a decline in the rate of hit-and-run accidents. A recent survey showed that the most common cause of bike-related injuries was a soft tissue injury.
The number of bicycle crashes and fatalities has decreased, as the number of cars decreased. As a result, fewer cars were on the road. The number of bicycle deaths was approximately equal between rural and urban areas. About one-third of cyclist fatalities occurred on rural roads. The number of bicycle-related hospital visits has increased over the past ten years, but there were fewer fatalities.