A new analysis of traffic fatalities in this nation spotlights a trend in the age of people killed while riding a bicycle.
In 1975, most bicycle fatalities were children. In 2012, 84 percent of those killed were adults age 20 and older; adult males comprised 74 percent of the dead.
The report, released Oct. 27 by the Governors Highway Safety Association, also notes that overall, cycling fatalities are down compared to 1975, the first year the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) began collecting data.
The report states, "The highest annual total (1,003) occurred in 1975. Yearly deaths averaged 933 from 1975 to 1979, 889 in the 1980s, 792 in the 1990s, and 696 from 2000 to 2012. The 621 deaths in 2010 were the lowest in the 38 years of FARS.
Motor vehicle deaths in general have decreased over this period, and the percent of deaths that are bicyclists has not increased since 1975.
"Bicyclists have accounted for about 2 percent of total fatalities each year, ranging from 1.5 to 2.3. In 2012 they represented 2.2 percent of all motor vehicle-related deaths."
Prepared by Allan Williams, former chief scientist with the Insurance Institute, the report also notes that 2012 saw 16 percent more bicycle deaths than were recorded in 2010. Whether that reflects an increase in the dangers of cycling is not possible to say, Williams writes: "Adequate exposure data are not available to accurately monitor changes in bicycle travel, and nationally representative surveys of the U.S. adult population conducted in 2002 and 2012 provide mixed evidence."
In other words, because there are no comprehensive statistics on how many trips are being made on bicycles, there's no way to know if people who ride bicycles face more risk per trip. It's possible that more people are cycling and thus more people are being exposed to the same risk. Williams notes that some evidence suggests that biking "is increasingly popular, particularly for commuting, although far less so in the U.S. than in other countries."
Fatalities involving adults age 20 and older increased from 21 percent in 1975 to 84 percent in 2012, Williams writes. "The percentage involving males increased from 82 percent to 88 percent during this period. Adult males comprised 74 percent of all bicyclist deaths in 2012. The percentage of deaths occurring in urban areas climbed from 50 percent in 1975 to 69 percent in 2012."
The report does not indicate whether adults have outpaced children in bicycle fatality statistics because more adults took up riding or because fewer American children ride bicycles.
Other observations from the report:
• "Between 2010 and 2012, six states -- California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Michigan and Texas -- accounted for 54 percent of all bicyclist deaths in collisions with motor vehicles," Williams writes.
In Arkansas, two bicyclists were killed in 2010, six in 2011 and six in 2012. Meanwhile in Texas, 42 died in 2010, 45 in 2011 and 56 in 2012. Although it's tempting to see such raw numbers as emblematic of more risk in Texas than in Arkansas, Texas is also more populous than Arkansas. The U.S. Census estimate of the population of Arkansas in April 2013 was more than 2.9 million; the estimate for Texas exceeded 26.4 million.
• "Lack of helmet use and alcohol impairment have been and continue to be major contributing factors in bicyclist deaths," Williams writes. "More than one in four adult bicyclists killed in 2012 were alcohol impaired." Two-thirds of the cyclists killed in 2012 were not wearing helmets.
• In 2012, 37 percent of the deaths occurred at intersections.
• "Enhancing visibility through reflective clothing and lighting is also important, especially since many collisions take place in periods of darkness," Williams writes.
The nonprofit Governors Highway Safety Association represents the highway safety offices of states, territories, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. These offices receive and administer grant programs funded through federal legislation. Members of the association are appointed by their governors to administer federal and state highway safety funds and implement state highway safety plans.
The report, "Spotlight on Highway Safety: Bicyclist Safety" is available online at ghsa.org.
ActiveStyle on 11/03/2014