In the first nine months of 2024, 85 bicycle accidents were registered in Hilversum. This is a striking increase compared to previous years: in the whole of 2023 there were 86 accidents, and in 2021 and 2022 only 73 per year. Since the beginning of 2019, a total of 431 cycling accidents have been recorded, the majority (245) of which occurred at intersections. The intersections at Kleine Drift and Diependaalselaan in particular stand out as dangerous points.
It is striking that children up to the age of 17 and the elderly from the age of 60 are often involved in bicycle accidents. These groups are together responsible for 53 percent of all registered incidents. Furthermore, the severity of the injury increases with age. A total of three fatal accidents were reported.
Not registered
These figures concern the registered cases. Not all accidents are recorded. For example, because they are not reported, because it was a one-sided accident or because an accident was resolved mutually and no emergency services were required.
Research by the Cyclists’ Union shows that the number of accidents is higher than these figures show. For example, news reports were compared with the available data. This showed that some bicycle accidents that were reported in the media were not reflected in that data.
In the near future, the municipality will look at whether there are other options to better keep track of the numbers. The municipality will also focus on prevention, just like at the end of last year. For example, they will again give extra traffic lessons at schools, distribute bicycle lights at sports clubs and point out the risks of electric bicycles to people online.
Aging
It is not clear why the number of bicycle accidents has increased. However, the Foundation for Scientific Research on Road Safety (SWOV) notes that it is an increasing problem throughout the Netherlands.
According to SWOV, this may be due to an aging population. “There are more elderly people in the Netherlands, and this group often cycles for longer. This is partly due to the use of electric bicycles, which allows this group to keep moving for longer.”