Car drivers were issued traffic citations in 18 percent of accidents. Bike riders were issued tickets in just 2 percent, Bikes running stop signs or traffic signals resulted in just 1.7 percent of injury accidents. Drivers should realize that it's easier for bikes to check traffic while they are rolling through a stop sign than come to a complete stop. Weather may be a factor. The pavement was wet in 12 percent of bike crashes.
Booze is sometimes a factor.
Bicyclists were noted as drinking in 7 percent of car-bike crashes. Only 3 percent of drivers had been drinking. Helmets may be reducing the number of deaths. There has been only one bicycling fatality on Madison streets since 1989. He was not wearing a helmet.