This study concerns knowledge and comprehension with regard to accidents involving bicycles and large vehicles (e.g. trucks, buses, coaches), as well as the resources implemented to reduce these types of accidents, and research that has already been carried out with a view to reducing the number and severity of such accidents. In the first section, an issue study into bicycle accidents in urban contexts highlights the fact that accidents involving bicycles and large vehicles are few in number, but far more serious than other accidents involving cyclists: between 2004 and 2007, a total of 310 cyclists were killed in urban contexts, and approximately one third (101) of these were killed in accidents involving a large vehicle. From this issue study, it also emerges that the severity of accidents between cyclists and large vehicles at intersections is greater than for other types of conflict. Next, a procedure analysis of these accidents was carried out in order to group them into a number of families based on similarities in the circumstances of the accidents. This analysis shows that many accidents — where one might think the driver of the large vehicle had difficulty perceiving the cyclist owing to the bicycle being located in the driver's blind spot — occur at light-controlled junctions where the large vehicle is turning right. The elements available to us for this study did not enable us to come to a conclusion regarding measures to be implemented to reduce this lack of safety; however, we do propose starting points for potential solutions, and identify aspects that require more closer examination. The end of this study is dedicated to the presentation of awareness-raising action led by local authorities and associations to minimise these kinds of accidents. (Author/publisher)
Abstract