Number of cyclist deaths drops in Czech Republic

The number of cyclist deaths in the Czech Republic has dropped in previous years, according to statistics released last month by the police in conjunction with BESIP – the Transport Ministry’s department of road safety. Back in 2000, for example, 127 Czech cyclists died in traffic accidents; last year the number was 50.

What factors contributed to the relative improvement? That was a question I put earlier to BESIP head Roman Budský:

“Simply put, cycling has become more and more popular throughout the country and cyclists have become more ‘visible’. Crashes with motor vehicles are relatively fewer than in previous years. Czech motorists are now more used to registering cyclists on the road and react accordingly. Also, many motorists are also now cyclists themselves, so they can better put themselves in their shoes.”

According to Roman Budský, increased awareness on the part of cyclists has also helped significantly. A poll by the STEM agency confirmed that 80 percent of those get in the saddle now put on a bike helmet, markedly reducing the number of serious injuries. BESIP’s Roman Budský again:

Roman Budský

“Bike helmets are a major factor, reducing the danger of head injuries by 85 percent and the risk of brain damage by almost 90 percent. Legally, all those up to the age of 18 are required to wear them but even when it comes to adults who ‘don’t have to’, most do.”

Infrastructure too, over the years, has improved, if there the going has been slower: there are many areas where problems remain: poor quality surfaces, a lack of bike paths, few alternative routes. There are also newer challenges, as well that have had to be tackled: the increasingly popular use of bike trailers or trailer cycles for toddlers or young children which carry their own risks and fall under new legislation. Then, there are areas where the number of accidents remains high: namely off-road or on the single-track, where this year so far has seen one death and 320 cyclist injuries, a number that experts admit is fairly high, Roman Budský once more:

“The number of injuries including serious injuries in mountainous areas is surprising and we are now working on getting relevant numbers for the whole of the Czech Republic from the Mountain Rescue service. In Liberec, for example, they are running a campaign whereby they stop cyclists on the trails, provide them with information and warn them about the potential dangers. This issue, too, is coming under increased focus.”