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ACCIDENTS

‘We must expand cycling infrastructure’: Biking fatalities rise in Germany

In the first half of 2019, the number of cycling fatalities reached the highest level since 2010. Experts weigh in on how to make the roads safer for cyclists.

Published: 22 August 2019 15:24 CEST
'We must expand cycling infrastructure': Biking fatalities rise in Germany
After a bike fatality in Wachtendonk, North Rhine-Westphalia. Photo: DPA

fOverall, traffic fatalities are decreasing. According to provisional figures from the Federal Statistical Office on Thursday, fewer people lost their lives in the first half of 2019 in traffic accidents than in the same period last year. 

However, in the first five months of the year, the number of bicyclists killed on the road reached the highest level since 2010. Between January and May 2019, 158 cyclists lost their lives, 16 (11.3 percent) more than in the same period last year. 

Newly introduced e-scooters, which many consider to have a high accident potential, are not yet included in the statistics. The scooters, first allowed on Germany's roads this June, are expected to be included in 2020.

READ ALSO: 'Improve cycling infrastructure': Can Germany cope with electric scooters?

E-scooter riders in Berlin. Photo: DPA

‘This development will continue’

The statistical office counted 1,465 people killed in traffic accidents in the first half of 2019. That was 40 fewer than in the same period last year, a decrease of 2.7 percent. 

The number of injuries decreased by 5.1 percent to 178,544. By contrast, the total number of accidents rose slightly by 0.4 percent to just under 1.3 million. With 1.16 million accidents, property damage remained virtually the same (an increase of 1.1 percent). 

In the first five months of the year, the number of motorcyclists killed fell by 44 to 172, a drop of 20.4 percent.

The number of people killed in car accidents stood at 529, or 31 (5.5 percent) fewer than the same period last year. The number of pedestrians killed remained unchanged at 173.

In view of the increased number of cyclists killed, Siegfried Brockmann, Head of Accident Research for Insurers (Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft/Berlin), fears “that this development will continue”.

Factoring in pedelecs

One reason for this is the infrastructure, especially in urban areas. “Bicycle traffic is growing faster than local authorities are keeping up with. Cities and municipalities have to make a massive effort here,” said Brockmann.

Another particular problem are pedelecs (pedal electric cycles), said Brockmann, which are included in the statistics for bicycles with a speed of up to 25 kilometres per hour.

“The number of pedelecs will increase. That's a huge problem,” said Brockmann.

He added that the number of fatalities for pedelecs – low powered e-bikes with speeds typically not exceeding 25 km/h – is twice as high than among normal cyclists.

The Allgemeine Deutsche Fahrrad-Club (ADFC/Berlin) sees a similar situation. 

“Germany must now step up a gear in the expansion of the bicycle infrastructure; otherwise we will constantly get such bad news,” said Federal Managing Director Burkhard Stork. 

More 'Tempo 30' areas

“We urgently need more ‘Tempo 30’ (speed limit zones of 30 km/h) in the cities, fast expansion programs for protected cycle paths on main axes and above all: protected crossings! Crossroads are the most dangerous points for cyclists”. 

A 'Tempo 30' sign in Hagenow, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Photo: DPA

About two thirds of all bicycle accidents are collisions with cars, said Stork. 

In the vast majority of cases (75 percent), the main culprit is the motorist. The ADFC therefore is pushing for “special attention to crossroads and junctions when expanding the cycling infrastructure,” he added.

According to Brockmann, the drop in the total number of accident fatalities in the first half of the year does not necessarily mean that at the end of the year this number will be lower than in 2018, when 3,275 fatalities were registered. 

Vocabulary

To die/to lose one’s life – ums Leben kommen

The cause – (die) Ursache

Rudimentary/basic – elementar

Cyclist – (der) Radfahrer/(die) Radfahrerin 

To include – erfassen

To push for/demand – fordern

We're aiming to help our readers improve their German by translating vocabulary from some of our news stories. Did you find this article useful? Do you have any suggestions? Let us know.

 

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ACCIDENTS

Why are level crossings in France so deadly?

Questions are once again being asked why so many people in France lose their lives at level crossings after a woman and three children died in a crash in north east France.

Published: 15 December 2017 12:41 CET
Why are level crossings in France so deadly?
AFP
The issue of safety at level crossings in France is a longstanding one and some of the tragedies recorded include the case where at least five school pupils were killed when a bus was mowed down by a train at a crossing in south west France.
 
The numbers of fatalities at crossings make for alarming reading.
 
In 2014 there were 121 collisions recorded at level crossings in France that left 25 people dead. Back in the year 2000 the death toll was 51. Last year in 2016 there were 31 deaths and 15 serious injuries after 111 accidents.
 
In all, between 2011 and 2016 187 people were killed at level crossings in France and scores more left seriously injured.
 
 
 
 
In all, France has over 15,000 level crossings on its rail network, some of which are considered more dangerous than others. While over 10,000 have automatic barriers and warning lights, not all do.
 
In fact according to SNCF some 2,777 don't have barriers, only a sign that warns drivers of the crossing.
 
 
In November this year a couple and their 10-year-old child were killed at a level crossing at Bonneville-sur-Tues in Calvados, Normandy when their vehicle was hit by a train. There were no barrier at the crossing, nor were there lights.There was just a sign to indicate its presence on the road.
 
For French rail chiefs there is no doubt where the blame lies for the number of incidents.
 
“98 percent of accidents at level crossings are down to drivers not respecting the rules of the road,” a source at SNCF told The Local. In other words drivers ignore closing barriers or drive around them – an offence that will result in a fine of €135 and four point penalty.
 
The rail chiefs list “impatience” as the number one cause for drivers illegally passing the barriers, followed by a lack of vigilance and non-compliance with the highway code.
 
 
The other two percent are caused by malicious acts, which could include the crossing being vandalised or damaged in some way.
 
According to SNCF in 59 percent of cases, drivers provoked accidents at level crossings by passing the barrier when they were closed or in the process of closing. In 38 percent of cases, drivers made an error and ended up stuck on the crossing.
 
A 2015 survey carried out by SNCF revealed one in five French drivers admitted illegally passing the barriers at a level crossing.
 
SNCF are also trying to raise awareness among drivers of the dangers of level crossings, notably among young motorists. For example many underestimate the distance needed for a train to come to a halt. If it is travelling at 100km/h it will need a kilometre to break to a standstill. 
 

But a source at SNCF also told The Local that safety at the crossings can always be improved, which is why they are currently spending around €40 million a year on revamping the level crossings to improve security.
 
And there is no doubt that some level crossings are deemed more dangerous than others. As of 2017 there are 162 considered more dangerous than others.
 
Although SNCF says often it is just acase of those with most road and rail traffic are the ones where most accidents occur. In all some 15 percent of accidents are concentrated in one percent of crossings.
 
SNCF no longer build new ones and are slowly and each year six or seven of the crossings, deemed the most risky, or where accidents regularly take place, are taken away altogether. 
 
 
 
But the cost of removing them can be extremely expensive – up to €15 million, due to the need to build tunnels or bridges. 
 
Rail chiefs are also spending millions on experimenting with new technology to boost safety, for example if an obstacle is detected on a crossing then a message is relayed to nearby trains which triggers the breaking system.
 
Cameras have also been installed at crossings to catch rogue drivers who refuse to wait and zig zag their way through the barriers. Authorities say the cameras are having a big impact in cutting down the number of infractions by drivers at crossings.
 
SNCF lists instructions on its website for how to act as a driver or cyclist at a level crossing and urges motorists to show patience and always stop before a level crossing where there are no barriers present. The onus is onthe motorist to check to see whether it is safe to cross.
 
The video below is a reminder of the rules to follow at level crossings.