Every year in Belgium, thousands of accidents occur on our roads. In 2023 alone, there were 36,557 accidents involving injuries to at least one of the affected users. Among these, many cyclists. According to Vias, 10,375 cyclists were involved in an accident. Or 28.3% of road accidents in Belgium.
A figure which is undoubtedly only the tree in a much larger forest: a significant number of accidents are not the subject of a police report, particularly when the cyclist, the only one involved, emerges with slight injuries.
Others are not so lucky: 10,741 people were injured with varying degrees of severity, and 96 unfortunately lost their lives. A figure up 6% compared to 2019 which can be explained, according to Vias, by the ever-increasing number of cyclists on our roads.
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To combat this significant phenomenon of accidents among cyclists, it is still necessary to know the circumstances in which accidents occur. The MOW, the Flemish equivalent of the Walloon SPW, recently commissioned the Vias Institute to carry out a study on the subject.
Which reveals surprising findings. “The conclusions of the study are clear: the responsibility for the accident lies as often with cyclists as with the other road user,” says Vias.
In one in three serious accidents (35%) involving a cyclist, it is the same cyclist who is at fault. In 31% of cases, it is the other user (pedestrian, scooter, motorist, etc.) who bears responsibility for the accident while the state of the infrastructure (hole, rut, poor signage, lack of lighting, posts on cycle paths, etc.) occurs in 18% of accidents. Finally, in 15% of cases, it is 50/50 between the cyclist and the other user.
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No less than 65% of accidents are therefore caused by human error. “For both cyclists and other users, the most frequently noted accident factor is a poor estimate of the possible danger,” indicates the Vias Institute. When making a maneuver, cyclists sometimes underestimate the danger associated with this situation. Additionally, the illusion of visibility may also play a role. Even in his right, the cyclist thinks he has been seen by the other user when this is not always the case. In other accidents, inattention is often reported, such as when a motorist opens their door without paying attention to cyclists.”
In 20% of cases, the injured cyclist himself missed a priority
Still according to Vias, one accident in three is caused by a refusal of priority. When the cyclist himself misses a priority (19%), when another vehicle cuts a cycle path (15%) or when the other user misses a priority, a stop sign, a light or a give way (15 %). Finally, in 15% of cases, the cyclist falls on an obstacle and in 9% of accidents, he falls alone, without an obstacle.
Contacted, Benoît Godart invites cyclists to be extra careful. “We need to make ourselves as visible as possible,” comments the Vias spokesperson. A yellow vest or helmet may not seem like much, but it allows you to be seen from a much greater distance. When the cyclist takes his priority, he must also ensure that the motorist has seen him clearly. Often the motorist slows down but that doesn’t mean they saw it. Maybe he’s dazzled by the sun, maybe he’s also on his cell phone. Better to give way and lose 10 seconds than to take it and end up in the cemetery.”
According to Vias, experienced cyclists are not necessarily spared. “They sometimes tend to take their priority at all costs but that can put them in danger.”
