A rising number of cyclists are being injured and killed in traffic accidents, not just in Belgium but on a global scale, according to a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report.
Last year, a total of 540 people died in Belgium within 30 days of being involved in a road accident, almost 100 fewer than in 2019. However, the proportion of cyclists that died after a collision exceeded 102 for the first time since 2010. Similar figures were shared by the road safety institute Vias at the end of last year, highlighting a worrying trend among cyclists.
This was also confirmed by the World Health Organisation in its Global Road Safety Statistics 2023. It showed that road deaths have fallen by 5% overall, but that serious accidents are still the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5 to 29.
"In the longer term, the number of traffic victims is falling, but not fast enough to meet Belgium's target of zero traffic deaths by 2050," Vias spokesperson Stef Willems told The Brussels Times. This is also a long way off the UN's target of halving road deaths worldwide by 2030.
Varying causes of accidents
Globally, pedestrians account for 23% of fatal accidents, while cyclists make up 6% of road deaths, up from 5% in 2010. This marks a 20% increase in a decade. The rise in deaths is particularly marked in South-East Asia and Europe, the WHO noted.
The WHO report reveals an alarming lack of progress on legislation and safety standards. Research indicates that 80% of the world's roads fail to meet pedestrian safety standards and just 0.2% have cycle lanes, leaving these road users dangerously exposed.
The picture is no different in Belgium: the number of deaths is falling for car occupants but much less for pedestrians cyclists.
Willems stressed that some nuance is needed: "There are several causes of death. Often, people see motorists as the only bogeyman for cyclists, and that is true to some extent. The vast majority of cycling fatalities are still people who are hit by cars."
Credit: Helen Lyons/The Brussels Times
"But in Belgium, the number of accidents not involving other road users is increasing and the number of people being hit is decreasing," he noted.
This is partly because cars are becoming safer. For example, some vehicles can detect cyclists faster with their driver assistance systems. The lowering of speed limits has also reduced the number of deaths. "While not all people adhere to these limits, in principle, people are hit at much lower speeds."
Willems explained that the ageing population also plays a role. More people are travelling by bicycle at an older age, and are thus more vulnerable. If someone aged 80 falls, the consequences are usually more serious than if someone younger falls. "Consequently, percentage-wise, there are many more older people among the total number of cyclists dying."
Regulations for all
While work still needs to be done to protect vulnerable road users from motorised vehicles, Willems stressed that authorities shouldn't hide from the fact that there are other areas to work on.
"Improving infrastructure is one aspect, but sometimes it also works to raise awareness about wearing a helmet, for example. Because in certain cases that can mean the difference between having a serious head injury in an accident or not."
He concluded that traffic regulations are there for every road user: "All road users have a role to play in this story, not only people driving motorised vehicles. Other road users should also always obey the rules."
