Acci­dent ana­ly­sis of kil­led und seriously inju­red cyclists on rural roads

In 2023, 189 cyclists were killed and 2,996 seriously injured on rural roads. This corresponds to around 42 per cent of all cyclists killed and 21 per cent of all seriously injured cyclists throughout Germany. These figures have stagnated at a high level since 2018, with the partial exceptions of 2020 and 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic, with no significant impact on the long-term trend. This is why the UDV (German Insurers Accident Research) conducted this study in cooperation with the Department of Road Traffic Planning and Road Traffic Engineering at the University of Wuppertal.

This is why the UDV (German Insurers Accident Research) conducted this study in cooperation with the Department of Road Traffic Planning and Road Traffic Engineering at the University of Wuppertal in order to scientifically analyse comprehensive findings on accidents involving cyclists on rural roads, identify the traffic facilities that are prone to accidents and derive recommendations for improving road safety for cyclists on such road networks. The central questions of the study can be summarised as follows:

1. How did accidents involving cyclists develop on rural roads between 2010 and 2020?
2. In which accident constellations are cyclists fatally or seriously injured and are there certain circumstances that favour these accidents? 
3. Can safety deficits be identified by means of road safety inspections at some accident-prone types of roads?
4. What measures can contribute to an effective improvement in the safety of cyclists on rural roads?

Key findings and recommendations

Intersections (crossroads and junctions) are particularly accident-prone, with around two thirds of serious cycling accidents (68 percent) occurring there. According to police statistics, the majority of fatal accidents are caused by cyclists themselves, for example by giving way to cars. However, this is often the result of a lack of suitable safety measures: The detailed analysis shows that there is often no dedicated cycle lane, there are obstacles to visibility in two out of three places and cars are allowed to drive at 70 km/h or more at every second accident-prone junction. Turning/crossing accidents and cycle paths that can be used in two directions are particularly dangerous. Cyclists from the right who have right of way are easily overlooked. At such typical accident situations, the responsible authorities should create safe crossing opportunities for cyclists, remove obstacles to visibility (e.g. by regularly maintaining greenery or keeping the necessary fields of vision clear) and reduce the speed limit at intersections with cycling traffic that are difficult to see.

Around 32 percent of serious cycling accidents occur outside of intersections (‘open road’). Three out of four of these occur on road sections where there is no cycle path. Here too, cycle paths would improve safety. Fast cars and unprotected cycle traffic do not belong on the same carriageway due to the large differences in speed. At the accident sites investigated, the speed limit is predominantly at least 70 kilometres per hour. Factors favouring accidents are poor visibility, for example in the shade of trees or at dusk.  In most cases, cars hit cyclists from behind. To ensure safe cycling, existing cycle paths should be extended, new ones created or existing service roads used.