Cycling in the Netherlands can be fun, but in 2017, for the first time ever, more cyclists were involved in fatal accidents than motorists. According to Statistics Netherlands (CBS), 613 people were killed in traffic accidents in 2017, 206 of these were cyclists, whilst 201 were motorists in passenger cars.
In 2017, there were 16 fewer traffic accident related deaths than in 2016. However, the number of cyclists suffering fatal injuries was at its highest in ten years time, and more than quarter of these victims met their end on an e-bike.
Of the cyclists who passed away, two-thirds were aged 65 or above and three percent were under 18. Many of these victims were also male, as more men than women were killed in every age category.
In addition to the number of cyclists and motorists who were killed, 58 pedestrians, 51 motorcyclists, 41 moped drivers and 25 people using mobility scooters also died in fatal traffic accidents.
In the province of North Brabant, 35 cyclists suffered fatal injuries in traffic accidents in 2017. This is the highest number of cyclist deaths of all the Dutch provinces. Gelderland is not far behind, with 33 cyclists perishing last year.
The provinces with the fewest cyclist deaths were Flevoland and Drenthe and those with the fewest cyclist deaths per cycled kilometres were Drenthe and Groningen. The number of cyclist deaths per cycled kilometres was the highest in Zeeland and Overijssel.
With more people on the cycle path and the introduction of e-bikes, the differences in the speeds of users are great. This brings along consequences. What’s more, the elderly tend to have balance issues with e-bikes and falls can be fatal.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, is concerned about elderly cyclists, as accidents tend to have greater consequences for this group than for younger cyclists. This group needs extra attention, she feels. Dutch Traffic Safety Association (VVN) feels that more attention should be given to improving cycling infrastructure, especially in large Dutch cities.