West of England West of England Road Safety PartnershipRoad Safety Partnership

Non-collision cycling Non-collision cycling injuriesinjuries

Rob Benington, NHS BristolRob Benington, NHS Bristol

Representative of 4 Primary Care Trusts in Avon Representative of 4 Primary Care Trusts in Avon area on WoE Road Safety Partnership.area on WoE Road Safety Partnership.

Non-collision cycling Non-collision cycling incidents... incidents...

A road safety issue.A road safety issue. 9,882 admissions to a hospital bed in 9,882 admissions to a hospital bed in

2008/09 2008/09

15,888 (all car occupants)15,888 (all car occupants) 9,830 (all motorcyclist riders) 9,830 (all motorcyclist riders) 8,601 (all pedestrians)8,601 (all pedestrians) 4,221 (all cyclists involved in collisions)4,221 (all cyclists involved in collisions)

(Admissions to hospital beds in England; (Admissions to hospital beds in England;

Source Source www.hesonline.nhs.ukwww.hesonline.nhs.uk))

What causes them?What causes them? Very little data from STATS19, TRL or DoTVery little data from STATS19, TRL or DoT

One useful study of cyclists in Oxford and One useful study of cyclists in Oxford and

Cambridge in 2005Cambridge in 2005

Loads of anecdotes!!Loads of anecdotes!!

www.betterbybike.info/non-collision-www.betterbybike.info/non-collision-incidentsincidents

828 reported incidents828 reported incidents

0-19 0-19 3.5%3.5% 20-29 20-29 17.7%17.7% 30-39 30-39 25.3%25.3% 40-49 40-49 27.1%27.1% 50-59 50-59 19.2%19.2% 60-64 60-64 3.6%3.6% 65+ 65+ 3.3%3.3%

AGE GENDER

Female 30%

Male 64%

Blank/other 6%

ETHNICITY

White British 85%

Blank 10%

Other 3.8%

Interim results - injuriesInterim results - injuries

52 KSI (6.2%)52 KSI (6.2%)

220 ED or MIU (26.5%)220 ED or MIU (26.5%)

555 no injury requiring professional help 555 no injury requiring professional help (67.1%)(67.1%)

Police aware of 4%Police aware of 4%

Interim results - causesInterim results - causesRank Cause

% of all reported incidents

1 Slipped on ice 25.85

2 Slipped on wet road 8.33

3 Slipped on soil, gravel, mud, wet rock, etc 6.64

4 Slipped on oil 3.62

5 Wheel stuck or slipped in rail / tram line 3.14

6 Potholes 3.14

7 Part of the bike broke 2.54

8 Mounting kerb or dropped kerb at too shallow an angle

2.54

9 Other got stuck / fell wheel / chain / gears 2.17

CircumstancesCircumstances

51% of all NCIs occur on the 51% of all NCIs occur on the commute to workcommute to work

Ice causes 35% of all incidents on the Ice causes 35% of all incidents on the commute to work commute to work

75% of ice related incidents occur on 75% of ice related incidents occur on the main highwaythe main highway

“Unlike the police records, these data show that skidding and slipping accidents are by far the most common type of incident and so this seems to be the area where action might do the most to reduce the number of cyclists experiencing accidents. Even though these are not usually particularly dangerous incidents, reducing their frequency should help encourage people to begin and/or continue travelling by bicycle. Incidentally, we should note that efforts to reduce the incidence of skidding and slipping accidents for bicycles should also have the happy effect of reducing such accidents for other single-track vehicles like motorcycles”.

Oxfordshire County Council, 2005

Conclusions Conclusions

In 18-60 age group, most NCIs occur In 18-60 age group, most NCIs occur during the commute to work. Slipping during the commute to work. Slipping on ice, while cycling on the road or on ice, while cycling on the road or main highway, is the No.1 injury-main highway, is the No.1 injury-danger. danger.

Highlighting the ice hazard will:Highlighting the ice hazard will: Reassure cyclists (there is no ice most of Reassure cyclists (there is no ice most of

the time)the time) Reduce serious injuriesReduce serious injuries

www.icebikes.orgwww.icebikes.org

Publicity Publicity messagesmessages

Cyclists – avoid ice

Employers – encourage commuters not to cycle in freezing weather

Cycle trainers – NCIs are the biggest risk

Road Safety Professionals – address slip and other NCI hazards

Road Safety Partnership Road Safety Partnership

Education, Training and Publicity group to identify Education, Training and Publicity group to identify opportunities to promote non-collision safety opportunities to promote non-collision safety messages from within existing work programmes messages from within existing work programmes

Compliment road safety discussion in JLTP3 with Compliment road safety discussion in JLTP3 with intelligence drawn from Hospital Episode intelligence drawn from Hospital Episode Statistics Statistics

Tell the world! Employers fora, road safety Tell the world! Employers fora, road safety community, injury prevention specialists, cycling community, injury prevention specialists, cycling organisations, cyclists, etc.organisations, cyclists, etc.