|
Abstract
|
Key findings:
• Cycling participation is falling and cyclist hospitalisations are on the rise.
• Motorists are more likely to be at fault in crashes with cyclists.
• A presumed liability law that places the burden of proof on motorists in crashes with cyclists is needed.
• The law would allow better compensation for cyclists and encourage motorists to exert extra care.
• Presumed liability along with other measures are likely to improve safety and cycling participation.
It is widely agreed that cycling is an effective way to promote physical health and mental well-being, reduce congestion on roads and improve the quality of the environment. In recognition of the benefits of cycling, the National Cycling Strategy 2011-2016 set out the objective to double cycling participation by Australians between 2011 and 2016 (Australian Bicycle Council & Austroads, 2010). Unfortunately, the latest National Cycling Participation Survey, run every two years to measure progress, showed that Australia has not only failed to reach this objective but participation has in fact declined between 2011 and 2017 in five jurisdictions, including the two most populous states of NSW and Victoria (Austroads & Australian Bicycle Council, 2017).
Most people cite concerns about safety, particularly fears of sharing the road with motor vehicles and the lack of appropriate infrastructure, as the main barriers to cycling (Heart Foundation & Cycling Promotion Fund, 2012). Available statistics show that cyclists' safety fears are not unfounded. While cyclist deaths have decreased steadily over the last two decades (Boufous & Olivier, 2016), hospitalisations associated with cycling crashes are on the rise. Recent data from Victoria show that while there was no significant change in the incidence of hospitalised major trauma for motor vehicle occupants, motorcyclists or pedestrians, the incidence for pedal cyclists increased 8% per year between 2007-2015 (Beck et al., 2017). 2007- 2015.
More efforts are needed to reverse this trend. As previous road safety lessons tell us, education campaigns and better infrastructure can only work in combination with strong legislation and enforcement. Legislation in the area of cycling safety is still inadequate and arguably puts an unfair burden on cyclists.
This is despite many reports, such as the one released by the RAA, South Australia's peak motoring body, earlier this year showing that cars are more likely to be at fault in the event of a crash with a cyclist (Royal Automobile Association, 2017). The findings confirm those of another South Australian study that examined police crash records and found four in every five crashes between cars and bicycles to be caused by the motorist (Lindsay, 2013); and another from Victoria that examined camera footage of similar incidents and found that the driver was responsible for the action that preceded the incident in 87% of cases (Johnson et al., 2010). All previous studies show that most of these crashes occur at intersections and generally involve a cyclist travelling straight on a single carriageway at the time of the collision with the motor vehicle...
Language: en |