Over 25% more traffic deaths last year; Many older cyclists killed

The number of people killed in traffic accidents rose by over a quarter last year. In 2022, there were 737 road deaths, 155 more than in 2021, Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reported. Cyclists over 75, in particular, were more often victims.

The number of road fatalities was the highest since 2008. Among the total number of road casualties, 291 people were cycling when they had their fatal accident. According to CBS, that is the highest number since it started keeping track of this figure in 1996.

Fatal accidents increased the most among people aged 75 and older. And especially by bicycle: 150 in 2022, compared to 94 the year before.

Nearly half of the killed cyclists died in a collision with a (delivery) car. A quarter died without a collision, falling due to becoming unwell, a wrong steering movement, bad road surface, slipperiness, or a foot between the spokes, for example.

As in previous years, more men (522) than women (215) died in traffic last year. At the beginning of this century, over 1,000 people died in traffic every year. The number steadily dropped to 570 in both 2013 and 2014.

https://nltimes.nl/2023/04/18/25-traffic-deaths-last-year-many-older-cyclists-killed