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CHAPTER SEVEN: WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT?

This chapter highlights factors which respondents felt contributed to the accident. Respondents were asked to indicate factors which might have contributed to their accident. Not all who took part provided any further information at this stage and 45% of the sample left this section blank. Responses were coded into broad headings.

Table 16: Factors contributing to the accident

Accidents are perceived to be caused by a wide range of circumstances.

Where given, the most common reason cited (7%) was that the accident was caused by a motorised vehicle of some sort. It should be recalled that, without attributing cause, 12.5% of casualties reported accidents involving a motorised vehicle. Factors contributing to accidents relating to cars included:

• Car doors opening (10 incidents)
• A vehicle cutting across in front of a cyclist (8 cases)
• A car pulling out unexpectedly was also mentioned such as
• • out of a driveway (3)
  • out of a side street (4)
  • out of a parking place (3).
• Cars turning in front of cyclists were also mentioned
• • 2 turning right and
  • 2 just turning in front of the cyclist
• 4 cyclists mentioned having to swerve to avoid a car

Sport was also a common reason for the accident. Of the 52 accidents in this category, 20 (38%) were as a result of the cyclists attempting stunts. A further 5 were attributed to acknowledged high risk jumping and a further 15 were attributed to trail or mountain biking. The remainder were attributable to skateboard parks, using ramps or simply racing with friends.

The terrain was seen to be the cause for another group of just over 50 cyclists. Issues here related to slippy surfaces due to loose gravel or leaves (13 cases); going downhill (14 cases); rough track or ground (5 cases) and uneven surfaces or bumps or holes in the ground.

The other main category mentioned by cycling casualties was some kind of mechanical failure. 8 accidents were reported to be due to brake problems and a further 4 due to punctures or burst tyres. 10 accidents were due to problems with bicycle chains. Whilst not strictly mechanical 13 accidents within this category were due to it being a new bike or somebody else's bike with the rider not therefore being fully familiar with its operation.

Weather accidents were primarily attributable to slippy surfaces due to ice or rain (18 cases), mud on the road (6 cases) or rain /mist or wet and damp conditions (8 cases).

Some 34 cases were just accidents such as catching foot on pedals, braking or just inexplicably falling off the bike.

Behavioural factors included speeding (15 cases), not holding on properly (3 cases), showing off or acknowledged sheer stupidity.

The obstructions which caused accidents related primarily to objects lying in the way such as ropes, hoses, logs or tree stumps. Although animals were given a separate category with a surprising 13 accidents being caused by dogs.

Females were more likely than males to mention a motorised vehicle as the cause of their accident (11% compared to 6%). By contrast males were much more likely to indicate that taking part in sport was a factor (8% compared to 3%).

Adults were much more likely than children to provide any information relating to the cause of their accident and this should be borne in mind when analysing their responses.

Accidents which were caused by a motorised vehicle were rare amongst children (1%) compared to 15% amongst the adult casualties. They were particularly prevalent amongst the 19-25 age group and although there were only 55 accidents within this age category motorised vehicles were mentioned as a cause in 20% of these.

An accident caused by sporting activity such as stunts, jumps and mountain biking was more common amongst the older child and accounted for 12% of the accidents in the 11-15 age group.

Adult cycling casualties were more likely than children to attribute their accident to weather conditions (7% compared to 2%). This may be due to this group being more likely to be cycling in adverse weather conditions.

Table 17: Factors contributing to the accident by child / adult

Those who had an accident caused by a motorised vehicle were more likely to have been wearing a cycle helmet (57%) as were those who were out cycling in poor weather at the time of their accident (51%). These tended to correlate with circumstances relating to adult casualties who had a greater tendency to be wearing helmets.

Those whose accident was caused by sport such as racing, jumps or stunts were commonly not wearing a helmet at the time (52%), compared with 38% wearing a helmet. This may have been a function of the typical age group who were taking part in these activities.

The following table examines the circumstances of the accident by whether or not the cyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of their accident.

Table 18: Wearing a helmet by circumstance of accident

Summary of key findings

• Accidents were caused by a wide range of circumstances.
• Forty-five per cent of casualties in this study did not report any causal factors.
• The most common casual factor (mentioned by 7% of respondents) was a motorised vehicle. Car doors opening and vehicles cutting across in front of a cyclist were mentioned as were cars pulling out unexpectedly. This cause was rare amongst children (1%) compared to 15% for adults.
• Six per cent specifically mentioned some sporting activity as being the a main cause, mostly attempting cycle stunts but also high risk jumping or trail or mountain biking. This was more likely to be mentioned by males than females and by older children.
• Other factors were due to slippy or uneven surfaces. Mechanical failure due to brakes or tyres and the weather causing icy, muddy or wet conditions.
• Those who were in an accident caused by a motorised vehicle were more likely to have been wearing a helmet (57%).

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