Skip to main content

Poor quality cycle lanes cause most accidents in Sweden

Poor quality of cycle lanes are the most likely cause of bicycle accidents in Sweden, a report by insurance company Folksam claims. Some 70 per cent of all bicycle accidents which cause serious injuries involved only the cyclist and were caused by poor maintenance of the lanes, gravel or snow. Around 20 per cent of the accidents involved a car or other four-wheeled vehicles, while 10 per cent involved a moped, another bicycle or a pedestrian.
May 4, 2012 Read time: 1 min
Poor quality of cycle lanes are the most likely cause of bicycle accidents in Sweden, a report by insurance company 5440 Folksam claims. Some 70 per cent of all bicycle accidents which cause serious injuries involved only the cyclist and were caused by poor maintenance of the lanes, gravel or snow. Around 20 per cent of the accidents involved a car or other four-wheeled vehicles, while 10 per cent involved a moped, another bicycle or a pedestrian.

Maria Krafft, manager for Folksam's traffic research, said that municipalities would have to establish a strategy to improve the traffic safety for cyclists in the same way as for cars.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Sustainable mobility awards for Malmö and Brussels
    March 21, 2017
    The European Commission has announced the winners of the 2016 European sustainable urban mobility awards at a ceremony held in Brussels. Malmö, Sweden won the EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK Award 2016 for its long-term focus on active transport modes such as cycling and walking, while the fifth Award for Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning was presented to Brussels, Belgium for its successful freight strategy. Malmö, the third largest city in Sweden, receives the award for its efforts in promoting active travel
  • Study finds support for toll express lanes, less for mileage charges
    September 16, 2013
    A new report by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (MWCOG) finds that support for a toll managed lanes network grows somewhat the more it is discussed, whereas a vehicle miles travelled charge loses support after discussion. Among 300 people who participated in five-hour moderated small group discussions of alternative ways of dealing with traffic congestion in the Washington DC metro area, toll express lanes on all major highways receiv
  • IAM warns of dangers of in-car technology distractions
    April 30, 2015
    The UK Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has warned that car manufacturers are building high-tech distractions into their new vehicles and have made interiors so comfortable they are being turned into living rooms. IAM chief executive officer Sarah Sillars said efforts to reduce distraction factors for motorists are being undone by the relentless pace of technology and eagerness of car makers to pack more gadgets onto dashboards. She said the main areas of concern were highly sophisticated satellite-
  • ‘Getting schooled in infrastructure’ tour kicks off
    June 17, 2014
    The ‘Getting schooled in infrastructure’ campaign bus tour by the US Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) began this week at the now-closed I-495 bridge in Wilmington. The tour, intended to highlight LIUNA’s concerns about the country’s failing roads and bridges, will travel through more than 22 cities and Congressional districts in a bid to press Congress to pass a long-term, full-investment Highway Bill this year. The campaign also includes radio ads, billboards, online activity and g