Cyclists always have the idea, at least in the back of their minds, that they could get seriously injured in an accident. Even when they are proficient, experienced riders, there is a constant threat from the motorists around them. They can’t ignore that.
What they can do, however, is take the time to look into how and why these accidents occur. That information can help them avoid dangerous situations. Here are four key stats from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that can help:
- In roughly a third (35 percent) of all deadly bike crashes in 2016, alcohol played a role.
- Male riders died far more often than female riders, with a rate that was 5.6 times as high.
- Rural areas only saw 29 percent of deadly accidents, while urban areas saw 71 percent, showing that city riding is far more dangerous or at least sees higher traffic numbers.
- The largest percentage of deadly accidents happens from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. That is true all year round, in every season. That’s when 26 percent of fatal wrecks happened on the weekends and when 20 percent happened during the week.
Can this information help you become a safer rider? Perhaps. You could avoid riding between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., or you could stick to rides in rural areas instead of urban areas. You could make sure you never drink alcohol before or during your ride.
All of these things can help, but they do not guarantee that you will not get hurt in a crash. If you do, make sure you know how to seek financial compensation for medical bills and more.
