The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently issued a report containing 22 safety recommendations regarding bicycle safety, which include blind-spot detection systems, collision avoidance technology, helmet use, and roadway and intersection design.
According to NTSB investigators, enhancing bicyclists’ visibility to other road users and improving roadway infrastructure for bicyclists would make the greatest difference in reducing the number of vehicle-bicycle collisions.
Helmet use is the best way to reduce head injuries. These injuries cause the most bicyclist fatalities, NTSB said.
“This country needs a multifaceted approach to deal with a problem that is only getting worse: more Americans are dying in collisions involving bikes and motor vehicles,” Robert L. Sumwalt, NTSB chairman, said. “Complex challenges, like making cycling safer for the growing number of people getting around on bikes all over the country, means that we have to look at everything that can make a difference. If the recommendations issued in our report are adopted, more Americans on bikes will arrive at their destinations safely.”
In 2018, 857 bicyclists died in crashes, a 6.3 percent increase from 2017.
Ten recommendations were previously issued after studies on pedestrian safety and speed-related crashes and following other investigations.