Cyclists are safer road users than drivers
Government data supports that cyclists are safer road users than drivers. In 2010 in SA 51% of drivers considered responsible, c.f. with 30% of cyclists. Did not include in my comparison other road users, e.g. motor bikes, scooters, pedestrians, etc. More info at
http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/roadsafety/road_crash_facts/sa_crashes
Annual Road Crash Reports
http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/70582/pinkboo...
But be aware that a study using bike helmet cams indicates that authorities incorrectly blame cyclists.
Title: Naturalistic cycling study: Identifying risk factors for on-road commuter cyclists
Presenter: Dr Marilyn Johnson, Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), VIC
Death of cyclists due to road crashes. Opinions of drivers, police and coroner: over 60% of crashes cyclist found 'responsible', but a dead cyclist cannot defend himself.
A study where cyclists wore helmet cams contradicted that cyclists are responsible for crashes.
Cyclists number 35 (88% males). Recorded travel time 408 hours. During which time 54 events (2 collisions, 6 near collisions, 46 incidents)
– Most frequent was side-swipe 40.7% (group with drivers left turn type 72.2% of this).
– 87.0% drivers at fault.
– 83.3% drivers gave no post event reaction, e.g. no braking or slowing.
– 77.8% where indicator required and visible
– 56% indicated
– > 50% indicated only 1-3 seconds (insufficient)
– 70% occurred at intersections.
Safer road users are cyclists, generally safe and legal. Anticipatory, defensive or reactive to vehicular traffic. Frequent head checks so high situational awareness. This contradicts authority view that cyclists unaware and that cyclists at fault.
[How many views and posts will this discussion get?]
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jilden on -
Do the stats for helmet-cam wearing cyclists accurately reflect the general population of cyclists? I am ultra paranoid about traffic while cycling but when driving often see cyclists take unnecessary risks on busy roads.
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Permalink Reply by Dario Gautama on -
Well most of the helmet cam videos in youtube are mostly posted because there is an incident in it and it is not really happen everyday on everyone.
If you are afraid cycling with traffic, just avoid rush hour in city area.
Many drivers just go nuts, cutting here, cutting there, and many more selfish act of the driver.
Outside of city area, just avoid road that doesn't have cycling lane.
Luckily port rd where I cycling nearly everyday have cycling lane, so rush hour is kinda fun because you move faster than cars.
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Permalink Reply by heather on -
The following table will make more sense of my figures of 51% and 30%.
Road Crashes 2010 for South Australia, Government of South Australia, DTEI, from pages 91-93
Table 24 Non-passenger Road Users Involved in and Responsible for Crashes by Road User Type, Age (grouped years) and Sex, South Australia, 2010
Drivers Involved
Drivers Responsible
Per cent
Cyclists Involved
Cyclists Responsible
Per cent
Male
22896
12471
55
535
165
31
Female
14371
7177
50
130
36
28
Total
39743
20404
51
669
202
30
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Permalink Reply by heather on
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Jilden, would need more extensive studies to answer your question. Where cyclists involved in reported road collisions in SA, females appear safer road users. The MUARC study involved 88% males and experienced commuter cyclists. A helmet camera study was to be done in ACT about 2011, with support from the Amy Gillett Foundation.
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Permalink Reply by Dario Gautama on
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I nearly crash into a car today because the driver suddenly cut cycling lane quite fast and suddenly stop and leave back side of the car on cycling lane on north terrace.
Luckily I was able to avoid the crash (thanks to 5 years experience of driving in chaotic Jakarta)
It was a busy time and it looks like the driver is quite panic to not make car behind him waiting and just turn left without looking rear mirror and did not anticipate queue after left turn.
What Australian driver needs is patience and some common sense.
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Permalink Reply by Frank on
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Common sense should be void in the English language, it's the rarest of senses I have worked out.
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Permalink Reply by Simon Lownsborough on -
LOL
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Permalink Reply by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on -
Basic statistics suggests that non probability sampling needs to be interpreted carefully.
After all this was not a survey fo cycltis at all.
It was a survey of helmet cam wearing cyclists.
Does wearing a helmet camera chage cycling behavior?
It may but unless someone has information on this it is just an interesting study.
It seems likely that the most important part of the likelihood of having an accident is the person involved.
Car insurance companies seem likely to have all sorts of information on car insurance claims.
Insurance companies will not insure you without information on your driving history suggesting some people have lots of crashes and some have a lot less crashes.
To me it seems possible that some bike riders are happy to take greater risks than others.
However I don't have any studies to support this :-)
© 2013 Created by Gus K.
