ZIV background: single-bicycle accidents
11 December 2024
Around 63 million people in Germany cycle, 55 million of them regularly. Every day, they cycle 112 million kilometres.[1]
Around 63 million people in Germany cycle, 55 million of them regularly. Every day, they cycle 112 million kilometres.[1]
The best way to prevent collisions and single-bicycle accidents? Smooth, wide cycle routes that are separated from motorised traffic and well maintained. Coupled with an adapted riding style for enhanced safety.
Road traffic accidents and their causes among cyclists
In 2023, around 2.5 million accidents occurred on German roads. According to official statistics, 360,000 people were injured and 2,900 people were killed[2], among them, 195 cyclists and 150 pedelec users. In addition, 6,489 cyclists were seriously injured and 38,656 sustained minor injuries, while 2,668 pedelec users were seriously injured and 10,898 sustained minor injuries.[3] According to the ZIV, the number of bicycles totalled 73 million in 2023, while the number of pedelecs lay at 11 million.
In road accidents, a distinction is made between collisions involving at least two road users and what are known as single-vehicle accidents in which only one road user is involved in an accident without the influence of any other, for example when a car crashes into a bridge pylon.
In road accidents, a distinction is made between collisions involving at least two road users and what are known as single-vehicle accidents in which only one road user is involved in an accident without the influence of any other, for example when a car crashes into a bridge pylon.
UDV study
In December 2024, the Insurers’ Accident Research Unit (UDV) of the German Insurance Association (GDV) presented the results of in-depth analysis[4] of single-bicycle accidents in recent years. The UDV, which is one of the leading institutions in German accident research, notes a sharp increase: «Single-bicycle accidents have more than doubled in the past 15 years, whereby the number of unreported cases is high,» Zeidler tells. «In the almost 27,400 cycling accidents that did not involve any other parties, around 6,400 [Radfahrende] were seriously injured and 147 were killed.» According to the UDV, single-bicycle accidents «are today responsible for 29 percent of cycling accidents that result in injury, 33 percent of fatalities and 44 percent of serious injuries». The general public often associates single-bicycle accidents with senior citizens. «Cycling is increasingly popular, also among older people:
‘While one in seven people involved in a single-bicycle accident used to be aged 66 or older, now it is one in five.’ Senior citizens’ reactions are slower, they lose their balance faster and are more vulnerable than younger people,» the UDV observes.
The increasing participation of senior citizens in traffic is by no means the only reason for the growing number of single-bicycle accidents reported, however. To determine the reasons, the UDV analysed the factors of infrastructure, people and vehicles usually considered in accident research:
(1) Infrastructure shortcomings
According to a complementary survey conducted by the UDV, the main cause of accidents that did not involve a collision is poor road conditions. The police, who were also surveyed, see this as the main cause of one in three accidents. «Particularly kerbs and tram tracks make it difficult for cyclists. […] According to the accident victims, most falls occur between December and February. Wet conditions, ice, snow and leaves are especially dangerous.»
(2) Human factor
Poor infrastructure and maintenance make it even more necessary for cyclists to urgently adapt their behaviour to the conditions. This doesn’t always happen though: «Almost two thirds of the cyclists involved admit that their riding style contributed to the accident. According to the police, just under one in three of those involved in single-bicycle accidents were travelling too fast given the conditions.
Sharp braking and inattention are also major causes of accidents.» The head of accident research at UDV, Kirstin Zeidler, thus concludes: «Safe cycle paths and anticipatory cycling prevent accidents.»
(3) Vehicle defects
«Bicycle defects are only of minor significance in single-bicycle accidents. Just 3.1 percent of the 7,767 single-bicycle accidents recorded by the police were caused by defects in brakes, tyres or other components. The police descriptions of incidents document defects similarly rarely (3.6 percent of the 1,481 incidents) and cyclists only reported a defective bike in 4.4 percent of the 1,521 accidents experienced.»
‘While one in seven people involved in a single-bicycle accident used to be aged 66 or older, now it is one in five.’ Senior citizens’ reactions are slower, they lose their balance faster and are more vulnerable than younger people,» the UDV observes.
The increasing participation of senior citizens in traffic is by no means the only reason for the growing number of single-bicycle accidents reported, however. To determine the reasons, the UDV analysed the factors of infrastructure, people and vehicles usually considered in accident research:
(1) Infrastructure shortcomings
According to a complementary survey conducted by the UDV, the main cause of accidents that did not involve a collision is poor road conditions. The police, who were also surveyed, see this as the main cause of one in three accidents. «Particularly kerbs and tram tracks make it difficult for cyclists. […] According to the accident victims, most falls occur between December and February. Wet conditions, ice, snow and leaves are especially dangerous.»
(2) Human factor
Poor infrastructure and maintenance make it even more necessary for cyclists to urgently adapt their behaviour to the conditions. This doesn’t always happen though: «Almost two thirds of the cyclists involved admit that their riding style contributed to the accident. According to the police, just under one in three of those involved in single-bicycle accidents were travelling too fast given the conditions.
Sharp braking and inattention are also major causes of accidents.» The head of accident research at UDV, Kirstin Zeidler, thus concludes: «Safe cycle paths and anticipatory cycling prevent accidents.»
(3) Vehicle defects
«Bicycle defects are only of minor significance in single-bicycle accidents. Just 3.1 percent of the 7,767 single-bicycle accidents recorded by the police were caused by defects in brakes, tyres or other components. The police descriptions of incidents document defects similarly rarely (3.6 percent of the 1,481 incidents) and cyclists only reported a defective bike in 4.4 percent of the 1,521 accidents experienced.»
The ZIV’s conclusions: better cycle paths, maintenance and research are needed
The conditions for cyclists are anything but ideal: they are endangered by poor infrastructure and brought down by tree roots, kerbs and tram tracks. Local authorities have a duty to plan, build and, above all, maintain cycle paths properly.
Even when the conditions are ideal, all road users must adjust their driving behaviour to the situation. Cyclists must protect themselves by adapting their riding style.
Better data is needed. In its 2024 study, the UDV only used data from five federal states and supplements the inadequate accident information from the police with surveys of those affected, whereby the limitations («bias») were not sufficiently scrutinised. It is also surprising that the UDV, as an institution of the German Insurance Association, does not take the sharp rise in insurance for leased bikes into account in its considerations: Around one million leased bikes, often in the upper price range, are on the roads in Germany. Their insurance rate lies at 100%, compared to no such insurance in the past. It is suspected that many more single-bicycle accidents are reported these days so as not to lose insurance cover for the damaged bike. The number of single-bicycle accidents would still be far too high if this were the case, but the sharp rise in the early 2020s could at least better be explained. There is an urgent need for better research and an improved methodology for this topic that is and remains an important one.
Even when the conditions are ideal, all road users must adjust their driving behaviour to the situation. Cyclists must protect themselves by adapting their riding style.
Better data is needed. In its 2024 study, the UDV only used data from five federal states and supplements the inadequate accident information from the police with surveys of those affected, whereby the limitations («bias») were not sufficiently scrutinised. It is also surprising that the UDV, as an institution of the German Insurance Association, does not take the sharp rise in insurance for leased bikes into account in its considerations: Around one million leased bikes, often in the upper price range, are on the roads in Germany. Their insurance rate lies at 100%, compared to no such insurance in the past. It is suspected that many more single-bicycle accidents are reported these days so as not to lose insurance cover for the damaged bike. The number of single-bicycle accidents would still be far too high if this were the case, but the sharp rise in the early 2020s could at least better be explained. There is an urgent need for better research and an improved methodology for this topic that is and remains an important one.
Footnotes
[1] MiD 2017, www.mobilitaet-in-deutschland.de
[2] In 2019, the year before the Covid-19 pandemic led to restrictions, there were around 380,000 injuries and 3,000 fatalities.
[3] German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), 2024 | Last updated: 03.12.24
[4] «During the study, the UDV investigated around 8,000 single-bicycle accidents that occurred in five federal states, the circumstances of almost 1,500 single-bicycle accidents, surveyed more than 1,500 affected cyclists online, analysed locations, consulted infrastructure planners, police and doctors.»
[2] In 2019, the year before the Covid-19 pandemic led to restrictions, there were around 380,000 injuries and 3,000 fatalities.
[3] German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), 2024 | Last updated: 03.12.24
[4] «During the study, the UDV investigated around 8,000 single-bicycle accidents that occurred in five federal states, the circumstances of almost 1,500 single-bicycle accidents, surveyed more than 1,500 affected cyclists online, analysed locations, consulted infrastructure planners, police and doctors.»
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Document created | 11.12.24