Properly Maintained Bicycles and Worn Bright-Coloured Safety Vests Make Riding Safer
Having analyzed traffic statistics in 2018–2020, the Road Administration has updated a picture of an average statistical bicyclist fatality (later – bicylist fatality). It is a 60–70-year-old man, who dies when riding on a suburban road in autumn or summer on Friday or Monday between 18.00 and 21.00.
A picture of the bicyclist fatality was created for the first time based on the data of 2015–2017. During the last three years the picture has not changed a lot.
According to the data of the Lithuanian Road Police, in 2020 fifteen bicylists died (compared to 11 in 2019). Even 81 per cent of traffic accidents with bicycle fatalities occurred on state significance roads. More than half of bicyclist fatalities were not wearing reflective safety vests and (or) were riding improperly maintained bicycles. Therefore, the Road Administration has launched a project of monitoring bicycle riders on state significance roads in order to find out if riders wear reflective safety vests and ride properly maintained bicycles.
During the first project stage in May-June, it is planned to monitor drivers in locations where a bicycle is a rather popular means of transport used to go to work, for shopping, etc. Later, the project will be carried out in other places too.
“A bicycle is a popular means of transport used for various purposes. Unfortunately, bicycle riders belong to a group of the most vulnerable road users. Therefore, it is extremely important to take care of their safety: to ride a well-maintained bicycle, to wear a bright-coloured vest when riding on a carriageway. The project aims to find out if they use safety means and if their bicycles are in proper condition,” said the Director of the Road Administration Remigijus Lipkevičius.
The Director emphasized that the findings of the study will help to analyse the situation and to plan the locations where safety campaigns addressed to bicycle riders could be held. During campaigns, road traffic regulations for bicyclists will be reminded; burning questions will be answered; consultations will be given on how to fix a bicycle properly.
The Road Administration reminds that wearing a bright-coloured vest or fitting white and red lights, as required by Road Traffic Regulations, increases the visibility on the road not only in the dark but under poor weather conditions or in the sunshine.
All riders are recommended to wear helmets. According to the Road Traffic Regulations a bicycle rider under 18 shall wear a helmet.