Between January and November last year, 62 fewer cyclists died on Germany’s roads than in the same period in 2020, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) announced in its preliminary accident report for 2021. The figure for cyclists riding a bicycle without electric assistance is particularly pleasing. In this category, the number of fatalities fell by 18 percent, the most significant reduction of all road users, by 50 people. Parallel to this, the category of cyclists using a pedelec or an ebike also recorded a decrease. Twelve fewer people died here than in 2020, which corresponds to a share of nine percent.
In total, 2,569 people died in road traffic accidents in Germany during the entire twelve months of the previous year. Since it began its counts in 1950, the Federal Statistical Office has never before recorded a lower number of road traffic victims. In 2020, the figure had been 150 more at 2,719. In 2019, the number of fatalities had still reached 3,046.
Number of road fatalities in Germany in 2020 and 2021 by month
Corona identified as main reason
The historic low was not a signal that cycling had become generally safer in this country, the Allgemeine Deutsche Fahrrad-Club (ADFC) stressed in a statement. Instead, the figures are due to a general decrease in traffic volume. The Federal Statistical Office has a similar assessment of the preliminary results. Due to (partial) lockdowns, homeschooling and home offices, German roads would have been less frequented than in the years before the outbreak of the Corona pandemic.
Therefore, ADFC reacted obviously alarmed to the published statistics. “The decline in accident figures last year should not reassure us, because it is mainly an effect of the pandemic,” said ADFC federal executive director Ann-Kathrin Schneider. “There has been no serious improvement in road safety for cyclists in 2021.” She said that cycle paths are in poor condition and often not continuous. Where traffic lights do not separate cyclists from cars, crossing intersections becomes a dangerous undertaking. Older cyclists in particular are endangered by poorly visible junctions and often speeding car traffic. “It should not be dangerous to use the most climate-friendly means of transport of all,” said Ann-Kathrin Schneider.
ADFC federal executive director Ann-Kathrin Schneider
Reforms for more safety called for
In order to sustainably reduce the numbers of cyclists killed in road traffic, the ADFC called for fundamental legal and infrastructural changes. One of these is agreement on a speed limit of 30 km/h as the new standard speed within built-up areas. In addition, they said, the expansion of cycle path networks must be emphasised. However, truly profound effects could only be achieved with a reform of the Road Traffic Act in the sense of “Vision Zero”. This would make cycling safer in the long term.
Independent accident researchers repeatedly conclude that those who move on a two-wheeled vehicle in road traffic benefit to a lesser extent from the declining accident figures.
Pictures: Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club e. V.; Federal Statistical Office
