On Fri, 11 May 2018 08:05:22 -0400, Duane
wrote:

On 11/05/2018 12:28 AM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
The state of Minnesota publishes annual traffic accident statistics,
some which is quite detailed:
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/reports-statistics/Pages/crash-facts.aspx
2015 is the latest data available:
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/reports-statistics/Documents/2015-crash-facts.pdf
The bicycle section starts on Pg 91.

Scrolling down to Table 7.07 on Pg 95, I find
"Contributing Factors in 2015 Bicycle Crashes"

The first thing I noticed is that detailed data was only available for
about half the known accidents in which a bicycle was involved. So,
double all the numbers and percentages. Of the accidents that can be
blamed on the cyclist:
Failure to yield right of way 28.3%
Disregard for traffic control
device (traffic light or stop sign) 16.8%
Non-motorist error 14.9%
Driver inattention or distraction 5.5%
Failure to use lights 4.4%
Improper/Unsafe lane use 3.4%
Vision obscured 2.1%
All the other causes are less than 1%

(trimmed)

In the list of accidents that can be blamed on the cyclist it include
Driver inattention or distraction? WTF?

I would guess(tm) that driver inattention and distraction means that
whomever wrote the report thinks that one "drives" a bicycle rather
than "rides" a bicycle. The same distractions that apply to
automobiles probably apply to bicycles. Talking on a cell phone, text
messaging, watching the scenery instead of the road, eating, wearing
earphones or loud music so the rider can't hear anything, pushing
buttons on the gadgetry, trying to un-jam the chain while moving,
trying to adjust the brakes while moving, adjusting the cleats, etc.
(I think I've been guilty of all the aforementioned except texting and
cleats). Anyway, use your imagination and I'm sure you can add a few
more things that one can do on a bicycle that might result in a crash.

And how about Vision obscured?

My guess(tm) would be glare from oncoming headlights. Riding in fog,
rain, or smoke. Blinded by the sun when it's low on the horizon and
directly over the road. Dark glasses at night. Cargo bicycle or
bicycle with handlebar basket with too tall junk piled in front of
rider. Blown newspaper lands in face. Desert mirage. Again, vision
obscured probably is based on automobile style vision impairments.

Out of curiosity, I was wondering how things had changed since the
earliest available data in 2004:
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ots/reports-statistics/Documents/CRASH-FACTS-2004.pdf
Table 7.07 Pg 89. This time, there was only data on 1/3 of the 994
accidents so triple the percentages for a bad estimate of reality:

Failure to Yield Right of Way 21.1%
Non-Motorist Error 17.2%
Disregard Traffic Control Device 12.2%
Driver Inattention/Distraction 11.0%
Improper/Unsafe Lane Use 8.7%
Driver Inexperience 2.7%
Vision Obscured 2.3%
Illegal or Unsafe Speed 2.3%
Failure to use Lights 2.3%
Chemical Impairment 1.7%
Improper Turn 1.6%
The rest are less than 1%

Non-motorist error climbed up a notch. However, I can't tell if they
are referring to the bicyclist as a "motorist" or if the crash is the
fault of anyone except an associated automobile, bus, truck, etc
driver. Since the data is for crashes attributable to the bicyclist,
my guess(tm) is that this refers to road hazards, pedestrians walking
in front of bicycles, potholes, overhanging branches, etc. Otherwise,
the numbers are much the same in 2004 as they are in 2015.



--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558