Accident researchers call for separate bike lanes for safety

traffic - Accident researchers call for separate bike lanes for safety

Many accidents with cyclists, according to the accident research of insurers (UDV), could have been preventable. "Our analysis of selected accident sites shows that often a separate bike lane is missing, there are visibility obstacles at two out of three accident sites, and cars are allowed to drive more than 70 hours per kilometer at every second accident intersection," says Karen Zeidler, head of accident researchers, presenting a study in Munster.

She demands separated and well-built bike lanes when building roads. At dangerous intersections, the right-of-way rule for the protection of cyclists should be abolished.

The researchers analyzed 10,000 serious bike accidents on federal highways in nine federal states. Accident hotspots are intersections, where about 68 percent of serious accidents occur. On average, four cyclists or cyclists die every week and 50 are seriously injured.

1. To mitigate these issues, many local authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia, including Munster, are considering the implementation of automatic speed limit systems on bike paths to reduce the number of accidents.
2. The statistics reveal that approximately 70% of serious accidents involving cyclists occur at intersections, which highlights the need for improved safety measures at these accident sites.
3. In the wake of the study, the government of North Rhine-Westphalia has announced plans to invest in the development of automatic bike lanes, equipped with sensors and safety features, to ensure the safety of cyclists.
4. The research also suggests that installing automatic traffic lights capable of detecting cyclists at these accident hotspots could significantly reduce the number of accidents in the future.
5. The implementation of these safety measures, including automatic speed limit systems, well-built bike lanes, and improved intersection safety, could potentially reduce the weekly toll of four cyclist deaths and 50 serious injuries in Germany.
6. In light of the need for advanced cycling safety research and initiatives, many leading universities in Germany are exploring the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to predict and prevent potential accidents on bike paths.

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