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NTSB Report on Bicyclist Safety on US Roadways: Crash Risks and Countermeasures 2019

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NTSB Report on Bicyclist Safety on US Roadways: Crash Risks and Countermeasures 2019 Bicyclist Safety on US Roadways: Crash Risks and Countermeasures Safety Research Report NTSB/SS-19/01 National PB2019-101397 Transportation Safety Board NTSB/SS-19/01 PB2019-101397 Notation 59670 Adopted November 5, 2019 Safety Research Report Bicyclist Safety on US Roadways: Crash Risks and Countermeasures National Transportation Safety Board 490 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20594 National Transportation Safety Board. 2019. Bicyclist Safety on US Roadways: Crash Risks and Countermeasures. Safety Research Report NTSB/SS-19/01. Washington, DC: NTSB Abstract: This safety research report updates our understanding of bicyclist safety in the United States by examining the prevalence and risk factors of bicycle crashes involving motor vehicles on US roadways and assessing the most applicable countermeasures. To conduct this research, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) used the following combination of quantitative and qualitative methods: reviewing countermeasures and research literature; analyzing crash and injury data; and interviewing national, state, and local traffic safety stakeholders. The NTSB identified three bicyclist safety issue areas in this report: (1) improving roadway infrastructure for bicyclists, (2) enhancing conspicuity, and (3) mitigating head injury. Other safety issues that repeatedly emerged during stakeholder interview sessions are also discussed. As a result of this safety research report, the NTSB makes new recommendations to the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); the Federal Highway Administration; the US Consumer Product Safety Commission; the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The NTSB also reiterates 10 recommendations to NHTSA. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency dedicated to promoting aviation, railroad, highway, marine, and pipeline safety. Established in 1967, the agency is mandated by Congress through the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974, to investigate transportation accidents, determine the probable causes of the accidents, issue safety recommendations, study transportation safety issues, and evaluate the safety effectiveness of government agencies involved in transportation. The NTSB makes public its actions and decisions through accident reports, safety studies, special investigation reports, safety recommendations, and statistical reviews. The NTSB does not assign fault or blame for an accident or incident; rather, as specified by NTSB regulation, “accident/incident investigations are fact-finding proceedings with no formal issues and no adverse parties … and are not conducted for the purpose of determining the rights or liabilities of any person” (Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 831.4). Assignment of fault or legal liability is not relevant to the NTSB’s statutory mission to improve transportation safety by investigating accidents and incidents and issuing safety recommendations. In addition, statutory language prohibits the admission into evidence or use of any part of an NTSB report related to an accident in a civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report (Title 49 United States Code section 1154(b)). For more detailed background information on this report, visit the NTSB investigations website and search for NTSB accident ID DCA18SS002. Recent publications are available in their entirety on the NTSB website. Other information about available publications also may be obtained from the website or by contacting— National Transportation Safety Board Records Management Division, CIO-40 490 L’Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20594 (800) 877-6799 or (202) 314-6551 Copies of NTSB publications may be downloaded at no cost from the National Technical Information Service, at the National Technical Reports Library search page, using product number PB2019-101397. For additional assistance, contact— National Technical Information Service 5301 Shawnee Rd. Alexandria, VA 22312 (800) 553-6847 or (703) 605-6000 NTIS website NTSB Safety Research Report Contents Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................v Safety Research Topic .....................................................................................................................v Safety Issues................................................................................................................................... vi Findings......................................................................................................................................... vii Recommendations ........................................................................................................................ viii New Recommendations ........................................................................................................ viii Previously Issued Recommendations Reiterated in This Report ..............................................x References ...................................................................................................................................... xi Figures .......................................................................................................................................... xii Tables .......................................................................................................................................... xiii Acronyms and Abbreviations ................................................................................................... xiv Glossary of Bicycling-Related Terms ....................................................................................... xvi 1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................1 1.1 Scope ........................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Goals .........................................................................................................................................1 1.3 Previous NTSB Reports and Recommendations ......................................................................2 2 Methodology .............................................................................................................................4 2.1 Review of Countermeasures and Research Literature .............................................................4 2.2 Data Analysis ...........................................................................................................................5 2.3 Stakeholder Interviews .............................................................................................................9 2.4 Defining Bicycle and Bicyclist in This Report ......................................................................10 3 Results .....................................................................................................................................11 3.1 Bicycling Activity in the United States ..................................................................................11 3.1.1 Activity Monitoring .....................................................................................................16 3.2 Bicyclist Fatalities and Nonfatal-Injury Estimates .................................................................18 3.2.1 Fatalities .......................................................................................................................18 3.2.1.1 Geographic Patterns ......................................................................................22 3.2.2 Nonfatal-Injury Estimates ............................................................................................24 4 Safety Issues ............................................................................................................................26 4.1 Improving Roadway Infrastructure for Bicyclists ..................................................................26 4.1.1 Bicyclist Crashes and Injuries at Midblock and Intersection Locations ......................27 4.1.2 Separated Bike Lanes ...................................................................................................32 4.1.3 Safety Treatments at Intersection Locations ................................................................36 4.1.4 Design Guides and Standards for Separated Bike Lanes and Intersection Treatments ..............................................................................................................................40 4.1.5 Reducing Traffic Speeds and Improving Roadway Infrastructure for Bicyclists ........42 4.1.6 FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasures and Every Day Counts ................................43 iii NTSB Safety Research Report 4.2 Enhancing Conspicuity ...........................................................................................................45 4.2.1 Improving Bicycle and Rider Conspicuity ..................................................................45 4.2.2 Motor Vehicle Headlights ............................................................................................47 4.2.3 In-Vehicle Systems to Detect Bicyclists ......................................................................48
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