The annual rise in sales figures for pedelecs reflects their growing popularity. Similarly, the number of officially registered pedelec accidents is rising, making the topic of traffic safety for pedelec riders increasingly more important. The research studies available so far provide neither a representative picture of the user group nor a holistic picture of their accident involvement. In the context of the present research three methodological approaches were therefore applied to describe the user group of pedelec riders and their accident involvement. For the first time, the representative survey provides a broad overview of the personal and vehicle-related characteristics of pedelec riders in Germany, their riding and usage behaviour, potential problems in handling the pedelec, and accidents experienced within the last three years (n = 775). The two accident analyses – a hospital survey of injured pedelec riders (n = 39) and an analysis of the pedelec accidents included in the German In-Depth Accident Study (GIDAS) (n = 214) – provide detailed descriptions of the accidents and their consequences. The group of pedelec riders turns out to be mainly an elderly but active user group that uses the pedelec frequently and for different purposes. Their predominantly high feeling of safety in road traffic is accompanied by a rather low risk tolerance. In the past two years, however, younger riders in particular between the ages of 18 and 44 years have discovered the pedelec for themselves. However, they only make up a small share of the user group as well as in the overall accident occurrence so far. The main accident black spots are collisions with passenger cars and accidents without the involvement of others, the latter only rarely recorded by the police. Even though most riders claim to ride a pedelec faster than a conventional bicycle, only few accidents occur at speeds in the maximum range of the pedal assistance of 25 km/h, which is the highest speed that can legally be supported. Accidents often occur when the pedelec is stationary or being started, which reflects the balance problems at low speeds reported by many riders. Both accident analyses are affected by selection effects, which limit the generalisability of the results. For example, GIDAS only includes accidents recorded by the police and thus mainly accidents with the involvement of another person, while elderly pedelec riders treated as inpatients were over-represented in the hospital survey. Due to the small number of cases, reliable statements about the users of fast pedelecs (s-pedelecs) and their accident involvement are not possible. Based on the knowledge gained, various recommendations for improving road safety for pedelec riders are derived, which, according to the focus of the present study primarily aim at the riders (e.g. increasing the quota for wearing helmets) or their vehicle (e.g. technical support to improve riding stability even at low speeds). Further studies are also needed to describe pedelec accidents and their causes, including a focus on car drivers as the most frequent opponents in pedelec accidents involving at least one other opponent, as well as to review and improve the quality of official statistics regarding the representation of electrified bikes and their correct classification as pedelecs or fast pedelecs. (Author/publisher)
Abstract