Officials at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have deemed May to be Bicycle Safety Month. Kicking off this year’s campaign will be the Safer People, Safer Streets Initiative, which is focused on reversing the increasing trends in cyclist fatalities and making the roads as safe as possible for all travelers.
This national campaign has been supported by the League of American Bicyclists, as well as bicycle advocacy groups and highway safety organizations throughout the U.S.
Bicycle Accident Statistics Reveal Troubling Trends
An experienced Denver bicycle accident attorney presents some new bicycle accident statistics from the NHTSA. Contact us if you’ve been hurt in a bike accident.
To underscore the importance of this Initiative, as well as an ongoing focus on bicycle safety, NHTSA regulators have just released some new statistics regarding the incidence of bicycle accidents in the U.S. These stats are based on data from 2013, the latest year for which complete data is currently available.
- In 2013, nearly 750 bicyclists in the U.S. were killed in fatal bicycle accidents.
- About 48,000 other cyclists were hurt in motor vehicle accidents that same year.
- Since 2010 (i.e., over the three-year period), there has been a nearly 20 percent increase in the incidence of fatal bicycle accidents in the U.S.
- Bicyclist fatalities account for about 2 percent of all traffic-related deaths that take place each year in the U.S.
- Bicyclist injuries comprise about 2 percent of all traffic-related injuries that occur annually in the U.S.
- Nearly 70 percent of all fatal bicycle accidents occur in urban areas.
- In more than 1 out of every 3 fatal bicycle accidents, alcohol impairment was a factor (with either the cyclist or another driver having been intoxicated).
- The average age of cyclists killed in traffic accidents is about 44 years old.
- Males are about 7 times more likely than females to be killed in bicycle accidents.
Noting the importance of this bicycle safety campaign, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx stated:
We are committed to making sure that every American can travel safely, and that includes the growing number of Americans who are choosing to commute, run errands, or stay fit on their bicycle… We’re working with state and local governments to promote safety for cyclists, but everyone who uses our roadways has a role to play in promoting safety.
What do you think about these bicycle accident statistics? Share your comments with us on Facebook & Google+.
Contact a Denver Bicycle Accident Attorney at Cederberg Law
Have you or someone you love been hurt in a bicycle accident (or any motor vehicle accident)? If so, contact a Denver bicycle accident attorney at Cederberg Law to find out more about your best options for financial recovery.
Since 2011, our esteemed legal professionals have been successful at securing results and compensation for people who have been seriously injured in traffic accidents, as well as other types of accidents. Having handled countless cases, our attorneys have a deep understanding of the law, as well as the legal experience you need, and we can fiercely defend your rights in any legal setting.
To meet with us at no cost or obligation to you, call us at 303-499-0449 or email us using the form at the side of the screen. In addition to offering free initial consults and contingency fee options, our lawyers make hospital visits to ensure that you have access to the legal support you need – whenever you need it.
