Bicycle Related Injuries and Fatalities

Two percent of motor vehicle-related deaths are cyclists although bicycle trips account for less than 1 percent of all trips in the U.S.  In 2006, more than 44,000 bicyclists in the U.S. were injured in traffic crashes and 773 bicyclists died as a result of bicycle-related injuries.

Eight-five percent of bicycle deaths are persons 16 and older.  The most serious injuries among a majority of those killed are to the head, highlighting the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet.  Ninety-five percent of the bicyclists killed in 2006 reportedly weren’t wearing helmets.

Bicycle Crash Facts

• The number of reported bicycle-related injuries has risen in recent years, following a decline from the 1990s. However, only a small fraction, possibly as low as 10% of crashes causing injury are ever recorded by the police.
• In 2006, the average age of bicyclists killed in motor vehicle crashes was 41, and the average age of those injured was 30.
• Children are at particularly high risk for bicycle-related injuries, with those under 14 years of age accounting for 13% of the fatalities, making this one of the most frequent causes of injury related death for young children. Bicycle helmet use by children 4 to 15 would prevent 39,000 to 45,000 head injuries and 18,000 to 55,000 scalp and face injuries annually.
• Deaths among bicyclists younger than 16 have gone down by 84% since 1975, while deaths among bicyclists 16 and older have more than doubled.
• Twenty-four percent of bicyclists killed in 2006 were alcohol impaired with blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) at or above 0.08%.
• Bicyclist deaths in 2006 occurred most often during June-September and between the hours of 6pm and 9pm.
• Children are at particularly high risk for bicycle-related injuries, with those under 14 years of age accounting for 13% of the fatalities, making this one of the most frequent causes of injury related death for young children.
• Deaths among bicyclists younger than 16 have gone down by 84% since 1975, while deaths among bicyclists 16 and older have more than doubled.
• More than 7 times as many bicyclist deaths in 2006 were males compared with females. At every age more male than female bicyclists were killed and the rates of bicyclist deaths per million people were higher for males than females. The highest rate of bicyclist deaths per million people occurred for 50-54 year-old males.

To Find Local Bicycle Crash Data

To find local bicycle-related injury and fatality data, contact:

• Local or state department of transportation
• Local or state department of health
• Police department
• Hospital or emergency room

Reasons for Bicycling

Where Bicyclists Ride

How Far Do Bicyclists Ride?

The average length of a bicycle trip taken on a typical summer day was 3.9 miles. Trip length was dependent upon purpose. Trips taken for recreation or fitness were longer at 5.6 miles while trips for other purposes averaged 2.2 miles.

Trips of:

Most Common Types of Bicycle-Related Crashes

Annual Crash Data to Download

from www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Traffic Safety Facts 2006: Bicyclists and Other Cyclists
Traffic Safety Facts 2006: Children

Sources for Facts About Bicycling

CDC at www.cdc.gov/ncipc/bike

Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center at www.bicyclinginfo.org

Insurance Institute for highway Safety at www.iihs.org

U.S. Department of Transportation’s NCSA at www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/PUBS/810802.pdf

2002 National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes and Behaviors at www.bts.gov/programs/omnibus_surveys/targeted_survey/2002_ national_survey_of_pedestrian_and_bicyclist_attitudes_and_behaviors