Bicycle accidents in Denmark – the contribution of cyclist behavior, the vehicle and the road

Knowledge on accidents and factors contributing to their occurrence is of key importance for the development of targeted preventive efforts. High levels of underreporting is a well-known challenge particularly for bicycle accidents. Medical records from 4205 cyclists from 2010-2015 were included in this study. The sample included all cyclists registered at the emergency room due to a bicycle accident during the study period. The purpose of the study was to improve knowledge on factors contributing to cyclist accidents based on a qualitative identification of accident factors and underlying factors. When identifying accident factors, we made a distinction between factors related to the condition and behaviour of the cyclist, the road and its surrounding, the bicycle and the other party. We identified 3124 accident factors most of which regarded the other party or the behaviour and condition of the cyclist. However, we also identified damaged roads and poor maintenance of the bicycle as important factors contributing to the occurrence of the bicycle accidents.