In the last 10 years, the number of people killed on the roads has fallen significantly. That is true not just in Germany but also in the European Union as a whole. However, the picture for cyclists is not quite as positive. In Germany in 2013, for example, 43% fewer road users were killed than in 2004. Fatalities among car occupants fell by as much as 51%, whereas those among cyclists fell by only 25%. The improvement in cyclists’ safety thus has not kept pace with the general trend. However, future technical systems in cars (such as emergency brake assist systems with cyclist detection) will have a positive effect on the accident statistics of cyclists. Before such systems can be designed, however, it is essential to have detailed information on how cyclist-car accidents happen and the course they take. The purpose of this paper is to add to this information. This paper was presented on the 24th ESV Conference 2015. (Author/publisher)
Abstract