In trying to determine why car and bicycle accidents are more likely to occur, it ultimately came down to a few common risk factors. Details for each are provided in the following sections.
alcohol
Unfortunately, drunk driving is directly responsible for many car accidents involving bicycles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk driving accounts for approximately 34% of all bicycle fatalities. In fact, if such a crash was fatal to a bicycle rider, the driver 13% of the time he had his BAC level above 0.08%.
Cycling while drunk (BWI) is a problem among cyclists, especially in urban areas. One study found that 15% of injured cyclists had consumed alcohol. All things considered, it's not safe for anyone to get behind the wheel or hold onto the handlebars after drinking alcohol, and it greatly increases your chances of getting into an accident.
position
The frequency with which cars collide with bicycles is highly dependent on location. For example, NHTSA found that 79% of his fatal accidents involving cyclists occurred in urban areas. 21% occurred in rural areas. Similarly, cyclists are more likely to experience fatal collisions further from intersections than at intersections.
Times of Day
According to NHTSA research, the most dangerous time for cyclists is between 6pm and 9pm, when fatalities are most likely to occur. The most likely contributing factors are reduced visibility and increased rush hour traffic as the sun goes down.
poor infrastructure
In some areas, the chances of a car crashing into a cyclist have greatly increased due to urban infrastructure. For example, few or no bike lanes increase interaction between cyclists and drivers. If the roads are not maintained safely for cars and bicycles, the risk of accidents increases.
Each factor can be problematic in its own right, but many can lead to serious, sometimes fatal injuries.