People who opt to ride bicycles might think that they are choosing a very safe mode of transportation. It might surprise some people to learn that bicyclists have accident rates that are 26 to 48 times higher per kilometer than automobile accidents.

On behalf of Joseph Caprara of CBLAW posted in Bicycle Accidents on Thursday, October 8, 2015.

People who opt to ride bicycles might think that they are choosing a very safe mode of transportation. It might surprise some people to learn that bicyclists have accident rates that are 26 to 48 times higher per kilometer than automobile accidents.

That statistic might seem shocking, but what an analysis of police collision reports in Toronto shows is even more shocking. The primary cause of bicycle-car accidents is a driver error that occurs at intersections. Drivers of motor vehicles failed to stop at a light or sign, or moved into the intersection before it was safe.

Other causes of bicycle-car accidents include drivers overtaking bicyclists in an unsafe manner, motorists opening the door to their vehicle in front of a bicyclist, motorists making unsafe turns, and motorists driving out of a lane or driveway.

Bicyclists riding out at a controlled intersection accounted for only 3.1 per cent of the accidents studied. Bicyclists riding the wrong way accounted for 2.5 per cent of the accidents studied. Bicyclists riding out at mid-block accounted for 2.2 per cent of accidents studied.

This study showed that the top seven causes of accidents between motorists and bicyclists were caused by the motorist’s actions. Only three of the top 10 causes were the bicyclists’ fault. All three of those ranked below the motorist-fault accident causes, which shows that motorists should pay more attention to bicyclists.

When a bicyclist is injured in an accident that occurred because of a motorist’s actions, the bicyclist might choose to seek compensation. Being awarded compensation can help to cover the costs associated with the bicycle accident.

Source: Share the Road, “What are the Dangers in Terms of Cycling Safety?,” accessed Oct. 08, 2015