- New data has revealed the deadliest states for cyclists, with California named the fourth most dangerous, where cyclists account for 6.73% of all road fatalities
- The findings follow an analysis of crash data reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over the last five years
- Florida reports the most cyclist fatalities, as they account for 8.5% of all road deaths, while South Dakota and Wyoming are the safest states
- A law expert urges cyclists to be wary of volatile weather conditions when on the road
New data has revealed where in the US it’s most dangerous for cyclists – with Florida named the deadliest state, while South Dakota and Wyoming are the safest.
Ohio Personal Injury Lawyer, John Fitch analyzed fatal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from 2017 to 2021 to determine where has the highest proportion of cyclist fatalities among all road collision deaths and therefore is the most dangerous.
And it turns out that Florida has the highest rate of cyclist fatalities in the US, with deaths accounting for 8.5% of all road accident fatalities reported in the state, the data reveals. Of all 9,472 road fatalities reported in the Sunshine State over the last five years, 805 involved cyclists.
It makes sense that a densely populated state like Florida proves risky for cyclists, as the NHTSA reports that over three-quarters (79% in 2018) of road accident fatalities occur in urban areas.
The second-most dangerous state for cyclists is another densely populated state, New York, with 2,810 road traffic fatalities reported over the last five years, with 203 (7.22%) involving cyclists.
Breaking the trend is Hawaii, which is third in the ranking despite being less densely populated. Slightly fewer fatalities involved cyclists (7.22%), accounting for 20 of the reported 277 road deaths.
Coming in fourth is California, which experienced 10,578 total road collision fatalities between 2017 to 2021. Of these, 712, or 6.73% were cyclists, placing the Golden State in the top five worst states.
The fifth-most dangerous state for cyclists is Delaware. Over the course of five years, the state recorded 23 deadly crashes resulting in cyclist fatalities, which is equivalent to 6.32% of the total 364 road fatalities reported.
Top ten most dangerous states for cyclists
|
Rank |
State |
Cyclist Fatalities |
Total Road Deaths |
Rate of Cyclist Deaths |
|
1 |
Florida |
805 |
9,472 |
8.50% |
|
2 |
New York |
203 |
2,810 |
7.22% |
|
3 |
Hawaii |
20 |
277 |
7.22% |
|
4 |
California |
712 |
10,578 |
6.73% |
|
5 |
Delaware |
23 |
364 |
6.32% |
|
6 |
New Jersey |
88 |
1,574 |
5.59% |
|
7 |
Louisiana |
141 |
2,528 |
5.58% |
|
8 |
Arizona |
162 |
2,922 |
5.54% |
|
9 |
Nevada |
42 |
975 |
4.31% |
|
10 |
Colorado |
88 |
2,072 |
4.25% |
According to the study, the safest states for cyclists are South Dakota and Wyoming, with only 0.22% of all road accident fatalities involving bicyclists. Each state only experienced 1 cyclist death across the five years among the respective 459 and 447 total fatalities reported.
A spokesperson for John Fitch commented on the findings, saying: “It’s widely believed that cyclists are most at risk on the roads in the states with colder temperatures and a higher likelihood of ice and snow, especially as we proceed into the winter months.
“However, as the findings suggest, the weather is not the only hazard for cyclists, with sunny states like Florida, Hawaii, and California among the most dangerous. The number of vehicles on the road, the nature of the area, and driver or cyclist behavior can all contribute to the risk factor.
“Cyclists and drivers alike have a responsibility when it comes to road safety and must all be careful to minimize the chances of a fatal crash when out on the road, whether these be in compact urbanizations or on the wide-open roads of rural areas.”
Credit: https://www.johnfitch.com