In California, we’re fortunate to have the advantage of virtually every month of the year being bicycle season. Given our accommodating climate, many Californians – particularly those in the Los Angeles-area – utilize bicycles as a primary means of transportation. Whether traveling to and from work, for social activities, or simply as a form of exercise, biking in California is a convenient and eco-friendly way to travel.
But with the enjoyment of bicycling comes the danger of traveling alongside cars, scooters, motorcycles, and large trucks – all of which can cause catastrophic injuries to a bicyclist in the event of an accident. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some statistics on bicycle accidents involving cars and other motor vehicles, and examine what tips experts recommend for ensuring everyone shares the roads and highways safely.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2019, 846 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles. Though that figure is clearly tragic, it actually represents a 3% decrease from the number of bicyclist deaths that occurred the year before. Overall, bicyclist deaths have decreased 16% since 1975. However, the data from 2019 (the latest recorded year available) is evidence of an unfortunate 36% increase in bicyclist deaths since the lowest point in 2010 – ultimately the safest year on record for bicycle accidents in the U.S.
Here’s a snapshot of what those statistics entail when you dig a bit deeper into the details:
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U.S. News & World Report between 2016 and 2018, bike fatalities in California hit a tragic 25-year high. More cyclists died in traffic accidents across the state than during any three-year period in the past 25 years.
The Association for Safe International Road Travel estimates that just over 38,000 fatalities occur every year in the U.S. as a result of motor vehicle crashes. Of those fatal motor vehicle collisions, it is estimated that about 2% of the annual deaths are bicyclists.
Kids ride bikes every day for fun, though not necessarily on our busy roads and highways. As bicyclist deaths involving children have declined in recent years, bike riders age 20 and older are much more likely to be involved in crashes where injuries occur.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults aged 50 to 59 have the highest bicycle death rates. Children between the ages of five and 14, and adolescents between 15 and 19, have the highest rates of nonfatal bicycle-related injuries. Those demographics account for more than one-third of all bicycle-related injuries seen in U.S. hospital emergency rooms.
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