2024 Sees 441 Cyclist Fatalities in Traffic Accidents

A recent preliminary report from the Federal Statistical Office reveals that in 2024, 441 cyclists lost their lives in traffic incidents, representing a concerning trend in road safety. This figure indicates that one in every six traffic fatalities was a cyclist, highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by this group on the road.

The data shows a significant increase in cyclist deaths over the past decade, with a rise of 11.4% from 2014. In stark contrast, the overall number of traffic fatalities has decreased by 22.4% during the same period, indicating that while general road safety is improving, cyclists are facing heightened risks.

Particularly alarming is the fact that older individuals are disproportionately affected, with nearly two-thirds (63.5%) of those killed being 65 years or older. This age group tends to be more susceptible to severe injuries, resulting in a higher fatality rate compared to younger cyclists, even under similar impact conditions.

When examining the types of bicycles involved in accidents, it was found that senior users of pedelecs, commonly referred to as e-bikes, are at a higher risk, with 68.8% of fatalities within this group, compared to 59.4% for traditional bicycles. The increased speed and handling differences of e-bikes may contribute to this trend, although it remains unclear if these factors are the sole reasons for the higher accident rates.

Among the 92,882 reported bicycle accidents that resulted in personal injury, the majority involved another road user. Specifically, 70.7% of these incidents involved a motor vehicle, accounting for 44,424 accidents. This underscores the necessity for greater awareness and shared responsibility among all road users.

The analysis of fault attribution reveals that cyclists were deemed responsible for approximately half (50.7%) of the accidents. However, in collisions involving pedestrians, cyclists were found at fault 57% of the time. For accidents involving motorbikes, cyclists were responsible for 50.2% of the incidents. In contrast, when automobiles were involved, the fault lay with the cyclist in only 24.7% of cases, and even less so (20.9%) in accidents involving commercial vehicles.

These statistics call attention to the pressing need for improved road safety measures for cyclists, particularly for the elderly, as well as the importance of educating all road users on sharing the road responsibly.