Bicycle-motor vehicle collisions. Epidemiology of related injury incidence and consequences

This study investigated the incidence, consequences, and possible risk factors for injuries resulting from non-fatal bicycle-motor vehicle collisions during a one-year period in Minnesota. A study of 925 non-fatal collisions involving individuals 12 years of age and older in 1984 found an inverse relationship between age and collision incidence, with especially high rates identified for those between the ages of 12 and 14 (164 per 100,000) and 15 and 19 (71 per 100,000). Male bicyclists had consistently higher collision rates among all age groups. In a survey of the 925 individuals (64.3% response rate) 95% reported sustaining injuries as a consequence of the collisions. Twenty-one percent said they had not fully recovered from their injuries approximately two years post-injury, while 26% reported persistent problems. These results show a high incidence of collisions under certain conditions and suggest protective measures to make bicycling safer on our nation's roadways.