The Manitoba Driver > Bicycle-vehicle collisions peak during the summer

The Manitoba Driver, from Manitoba Public Insurance
June 2008

About 420 words
Bicycle-vehicle collisions peak during the summer

With the summer months now upon us, it’s important for both motorists and bicyclists to be careful when on the roadways.

June to September is the worst period for bicycle-vehicle crashes – 62 per cent occur in this four-month period, according to claims data from Manitoba Public Insurance.

“Warm summer weather brings out the cyclists,” says Clif Eden, manager of Road Safety with Manitoba Public Insurance. “But this increase of cyclists on the roads means even greater risk for them. Motorists need to be alert and respect cyclists.”

On average, 182 cyclists are injured each year in Manitoba. July is the worst month with 17 per cent of all injury crashes. About 380 bicycle claims are reported each year in Manitoba.

While one may think most of the crashes would involve young cyclists, statistics prove otherwise.

“Bicyclists aged 20 to 24 have the highest involvement in bodily injury crashes,” Eden says. “On a per capita basis, the annual involvement rate of this age group is 29 bodily injuries per 100,000 people.”

In comparison, the 10- to 14-year-old group has 23 bodily injuries per 100,000, while 15- to 19-year-olds account for 22 bodily injuries per 100,000.

Manitoba Public Insurance claims data also indicate most bicycle collisions occur on weekdays; over half of all collisions take place between noon and 6 p.m.

While wearing a helmet is not mandatory in Manitoba, cyclists are strongly encouraged to wear headgear to avoid a serious injury. Eden suggests cyclists follow these tips to enjoy a safe and happy trip:

Don’t ride in a car’s blind spot. Stay far enough behind so the driver can see you.
Don’t try passing a vehicle on the right.
Don’t ride in the right-turn only lane when you want to continue going straight.
Don’t ride the wrong way down the street. Drivers look only where they expect other traffic.
Don’t swerve in between parked cars.
Stay behind cars making right-hand turns at intersections. If it is safe, shoulder-check and then pass on the left.
Ride far enough away from parked cars to avoid being hit by a car door. Look for drivers in the cars.
Use hand signals for all turns and lane changes.

“We encourage parents to ride along with their children,” Eden says. “Young children are very impressionable. If they see their parents wearing a proper helmet, using hand signals and riding responsibly, children will likely ride this way when they’re alone with their friends.”

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