BICYCLE-MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH TYPES: THE EARLY 1990S

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to apply the basic NHTSA bicyclist typologies to a sample of recent crashes and to refine and update the crash type distributions with particular attention to roadway and locational factors. Three thousand bicycle-motor vehicle cases were coded in a population-based sample drawn from the states of California, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Utah. The crash types were distributed as: (a) parallel paths - 36%, (b) crossing paths - 57%, and (c) specific circumstances - 6%. Most frequent parallel path crashes were motorist turn/merge into bicyclist's path (34.4% of all parallel path crashes), motorist overtaking (24.2%), and bicyclist turn/merge into motorist's path (20.6%). Most frequent crossing path crashes occurred when the motorist failed to yield (37.7% of crossing path crashes), the bicyclist failed to yield at an intersection (29.1%), and when the bicyclist failed to yield midblock (20.5%). Future safety considerations should be systemwide and include an examination of intersections and other junctions, well-designed facilities, bicyclist riding practices, and increased awareness of bicyclists by motor vehicle drivers.