From: rlewis@muskwa.ucs.ualberta.ca (Robert Lewis)
Subject: Re: Request for statistics concerning bicycle helmet use in Holland.
Keywords: Inujuries, solo crashes
Organization: University Of Alberta, Edmonton Canada
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 05:03:48 GMT

madine@cbnewsm.uucp (G. E. Madine, AT&T-BL/AL, cbnewsm.) writes:

>At a meeting of our local bicycle advocacy group 4 days ago, we
>viewed a slide show about bicycling in Leiden, Holland.  The photographer
>is a U.S. citizen who lived for some time in Leiden.

[deleted section]

>I am not surprised by the lack of bicycle helmets in a different
>culture.  And I am not going to criticize it.  What surprised and
>disturbed me was the local opinion expressed by some at the meeting when
>we discussed it briefly.  It was put forth that the lack of
>car/bike accidents in Holland justified the attitude of safety.
>When I pointed out that at least 8/10 bicycle crashes are solo in
>the U.S., it was argued that the helmet's primary purpose was to
>protect in car/bike accidents.  

A common enough attitude but one based on very little information.

>                     I am posting to ask if anyone might have seen
>or heard about any bicycle crash + resulting injury statistics from
>Holland?  

While much has been writen about the aesthetics of Dutch cycle
facilities it is extremely difficult to find anything on their effects
on safety.  The only study I have seen is:  

    Wegman, F. (1990).  "Safety Effects of Bicycle Facilities:  the
        Dutch Experience."  International Study Week for Traffic
        Engineering and Safety.  (16th: 1990)  Roads and traffic
        2000: 16th International Study Week for Traffic Engineering
        and Safety.  Theme 4 E, Safety aspects of cycle ways.  no
        pagination.

Fred Wegman is listed as working for the Institute for Road
Safety Research (Stichting Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Verkeersveiligheid, SWOV).  

Some of the information he gives which might be of interest to you and
perhaps others on the net:

     The Dutch travelled a total of 158.8 thousand million 
     kilometres in 1986.  Private cars did 74%, public 
     transport 11%, bicycles 7% and mopeds 1% of this.

     The most important motive to ride a bike appears to be
     recreational and sport (24%), commuting to work (18%), 
     to school (18%) and shopping (18%).
 
     The Dutch travelled a total of 158.8 thousand million
     kilometers in 1986.  Private cars did 74%, public
     transport 11%, bicycles 7% and mopeds over 1% of this. 
     
     Dutch traffic is relatively safe with a mortality rate
     of some 10 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants [U.S. rate 20]. 
     Approximately 22% of the traffic fatalities are
     cyclists and 8% moped riders.  These percentages have
     remained more or less constant in the last few years. 
     Some 25% of the in-patients are bicyclists, 20% moped
     riders.  If passenger cars have an accident rate
     (deaths per kilometer) of 1, then that of cyclists is
     4.5 and that of moped riders 11. (p. 1, note there is no 
     pagination in the original) 
 
     From the afore mentioned research comes the indication 
     that the seriousness of the accidents of cyclists was 
     higher if there were lanes or paths for cyclists. (p. 2)
 
     It is remarkable that this study shows that there are
     no data for effects of facilities on junctions, the
     more so if the results for built up areas are
     considered. (p. 4)

Another source is:  

     United Nations (1988).  Statistics of Road Traffic Accidents in 
         Europe, 1986.  New York:  United Nations.

In comparing 18 European countries and the U.S.A. in terms of the
per capita fatalities of cyclists by country:  1) the proportion of 
cyclists killed (%) of the total road accident casualities and,  2)
the number of cyclists killed in road accidents per 100,000 inhabitants.
 
                     (1)          Rank        (2)      Rank 
 
France               4.00           4        0.80        6 
Netherlands         20.41          19**      2.15       19** 
United Kingdom       5.00           5        0.50        4 
United States        2.04           2        0.39        3 
 
                         1 = best    19 = worst 
 
Of course they do not take into account different ammount of
bicycle use, still they refute the contention that cycling is in
any sense absolutely safer in Holland than the U. S.  

>        It is considered the model country for Bicycle use in the
>Western industrialized world.  

Yet:  

     It is remarkable that this study shows that there are
     no data for effects of facilities on junctions, the
     more so if the results for built up areas are
     considered. (p. 4)

A problem recognized and studied in North America since the mid-70s.

>                                (But it has been pointed out that
>it is not a particularly good model for the U.S. because of population
>distribution and geographic differences.)  Bicycle use is apparently so high

Note not as high as sometimes claimed, 7% of total travel distance (see
above).

>that I expect that bicycle traffic accidents get a high priority
>in reports (relative to the U.S.) if for no other reason than
>the lack of any other traffic to be involved in accidents.

Looking at fatalities gets around this as, while non-fatal accidents are
reported at very variable rates around the world (I don't know what they
are in the Netherlands but I would not assume that they "get a high 
priority"), fatal accidents seem to be pretty consistantly reported in
the developed world.

>What do bicycle crash + injury statistics tell about the low helmet
>use in Holland?  

It tells me that if I were in Holland I would keep my helmet on my head.
If the Dutch wish to ride without helmets that's their business but
their own accident statistics strongly suggest that if one feels that
one should wear a helmet in North America then it is a mistake to feel
that one doesn't need one there.

Robert M. Lewis
Department of Sociology
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.soc