Helmet use and traffic rule infringements of pedelec riders and cyclists

Project partners

• IAOV - Institut für Arbeits-, Organisations- und Verkehrsforschung GmbH

Funding

Unfallforschung der Versicherer (UDV)

Duration

07/2015-09/2016

Topic

The aim of the four studies carried out in this project is to analyse safety-relevant behavior of cyclists and e-bike riders, such as helmet use, as well as traffic rule infringements e.g. run the red light or the illegal use of infrastructure. In order to look at such questions, data from the Pedelec-Naturalistic Cycling Study (Pedelec-NCS), conducted in a previous project, was used.

As an argument against a helmet legislation for cyclists, safety concerns are mentioned, which means that wearing a helmet might lead to more risky behaviour of the cyclist, like a faster and potentially more accidental riding style as a kind of risk compensation. In this study, the possible compensation behaviour should be investigated in real traffic.

Red light running is one of the most frequently observed infringements of cyclists in road traffic, but the specific circumstances of these violations (e.g. infrastructural conditions, behavioral patterns of cyclists) are hardly ever considered. It is also unclear to what extent the use of electric bicycles (Pedelec25, Pedelec45) affects the willingness to commit a red light. These questions are addressed in study two.

The third and fourth study focus on the illegal use of pavements and the use of a bicycle infrastructure or carriageway against direction of travel. Both behaviours often lead to conflicts and collisions. Accordingly, the question arises of possible motives for such illegal and potentially dangerous behaviour by cyclists and e-bike riders.

The research report (No. 43) can be found on the homepage of accident insurers

Foto: Jakob Müller