Pedal cyclist fatalities in the United States: 2011–2021

Pedal cyclists are a particularly vulnerable group of roadway users. Pedal cycle use has increased in the past several years. ¹ Understanding the demographics and underlying factors involving pedal cyclist crashes can lead to education and policy changes to prevent morbidity and mortality. A publicly available database was used to identify these factors.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST) ² was queried to identify fatal and non-fatal pedal cyclist crashes from 2011 to 2021. FIRST is a combination of NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS). FARS data is obtained from all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico utilizing police accident reports, state driver licensing files, coroner/Medical Examiner reports, Emergency Medical Service reports, and other state records. ³ “CRSS obtains its data from a nationally representative probability sample selected from the estimated 5 to 6 million police-reported crashes that occur annually.” ⁴ No Institutional Review Board approval was required because the data is aggregate and de-identified. FIRST was queried for demographics, blood alcohol status, speed, and location for fatally and non-fatally injured pedal cyclist crashes.

Data analysis yielded the following: 534,000 pedal cyclists injured and 9000 pedal cyclist killed (1.6% of total) on US roadways from 2011–2021. Non-fatal injuries were classified as incapacitating (12%), non-incapacitating (50%), and other (38%). There was an increase in the number of fatally injured pedal cyclists over the course of the investigated years. (Figure 1). Urban locations accounted for 75% of fatal crashes. A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was detectable for the driver in 38% of fatal crashes. Six percent of fatally injured pedal cyclists were impaired at the time of crash. Striking drivers in fatal crashes were 2:1 male to female. Geographically, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee had the highest number of fatal crashes; New England had the least. Drivers striking pedal cyclists fatally were predominately in the 20–65 age range (9% aged 15–20, 11% over age 65). Of fatally struck cyclists, 43% were aged 25–54. Fatally injured pedal cyclists were more likely to be white (5884) than black (1184). Helmet use data was only available for those fatally injured in the years 2017–2021. In 75% of fatal crashes, pedal cyclists were not using a helmet. Speeding was involved in 9% of fatal crashes and in 1.5% of non-fatal crashes. Pedal cyclists were killed in 45 mile per hour (MPH) speed zones 21% of the time followed by 55 MPH (17%), and 35 MPH (18%).

Figure 1.

Male and female pedalcyclist involved in fatal crashes by year.

The data presented offer a guide to decreasing death and disability associated with pedal cyclist crashes. Male drivers and pedal cyclists aged 25–55 are the most likely to be involved in pedal cycle crashes. Targeting education at this cohort concerning speed, driving while impaired, and pedal cyclist safety would have the most impact. Alcohol misuse by motor vehicle operators is a major factor in fatal pedal cyclist crashes. Decreasing the number of impaired drivers on the road will improve pedal cyclist fatality numbers. States in the Southeast of the United States have the largest percentage of pedestrian fatalities and are an area to consider targeted education and policy intervention. Decreasing posted speed limits in heavy cycle use areas will decrease fatalities. The information gathered in this study should lead to deeper analysis, research and interventions. Further work using the FIRST data set can drill down into roadway type, emergency medical response and on scene times, time of day, and season for fatal crashes. Pedal cyclist fatalities across the United States have increased in the past ten years. Using the data supplied here, we can begin to reverse that trend.