Growing number of bicycle accidents during summer - a reminder to use bicycle helmets

The summer season comes with a growing number of bicycles, motorcycle and scooters on the streets, as well as an increasing number of people who have suffered in road traffic incidents as indicated by BTA Insurance Company (hereinafter - BTA) data.

“Taking safety precautions to reduce the possibility of injuries while participating in road traffic during the bicycle and motorcycle season is mandatory. It should be remembered that it is necessary to use helmets. Motorcyclists usually comply with this requirement, but bicycle and scooter drivers often ignore it, which is not a good choice,” explains the Head of BTA Baltic Risk Underwriting Department Ivo Danče.

Cyclists, motorcycle and scooter drivers who are involved in accidents, often suffer bruises, abrasions, lacerations, fractures and concussions. The largest insurance indemnity paid for an accident in 2018 involving a cyclist was EUR 7,870. This year, the largest indemnity to date paid for an accident involving a cyclist was EUR 4,920.

On average, the insurance indemnity claimed in 2018 for accidents involving cyclists, motorcycle and scooter drivers was EUR 390.

Special attention should be paid to children, according to the Children’s Hospital data, falls are the second most common type of injury - during the summer season doctors assist more than 200 young cyclists, scooter drivers and roller-skaters every month. In one month about 900 injured children are treated in the hospital.

In general, children usually injure their hands (299 cases per month), head (259 cases), legs (224 cases) and chest (145 cases). Although the greatest incidence is characteristic to one to two year old toddlers, when the child begins to actively explore the world, in summer, the number of injuries increases also in other age groups. Boys traditionally suffer injuries nearly twice as often than girls, they treat safety precautions more casually and are more reckless cyclists. 

Children and their parents should take note of these recommendations of insurance experts while traveling by bike:

• Up to 10 years of age, it is recommended to only participate in traffic with a bicycle, if the child is accompanied by an adult, while children from the age of 7 are allowed to use a bicycle on sidewalks, bike paths, carriageway or side of the road only under adult supervision.
• Children up to the age of 7 may be carried by persons who have reached the age of 18, if the bicycle is fitted with an extra seat and secure rungs to support the child’s feet. The child must wear a buckled protective helmet.
• Children are allowed to participate in the road traffic without adult supervision from the age of 10. Until then, it is important to learn the road traffic regulations and pass the Road Traffic Safety Directorate examination to acquire a bicycle license.
• While travelling on a bicycle, the insurer recommends to stay visible and respect the safety regulations - children up to age of 12 must wear a protective helmet and a high-visibility vest.
• The bicycle must be appropriate size for the child.
• The seat must be adjusted so that the leg is straight when sitting on the seat.
• The steer should be in a comfortable position, so that the child could reach it while sitting, however, the whole body weight should not be put on the wrists.
• When using balance bikes intended for younger children, the parents must remember that the child must wear a safety helmet and must be supervised, so that their activities would not hinder pedestrians, other cyclists or vehicles.
• If it is intended that the child would use the bicycle independently, it is important to take these familiar routes with the parents first and learn how individual intersections or parts of the road should be crossed.
• While on the road, the bicycles should remain in a single file and as close to the right side of the carriageway as possible. If there is a cycling path, the cyclist is not allowed to travel on the carriageway.

About BTA

BTA Baltic Insurance Company is one of the leading insurance companies in the Baltics, offering the broadest range of non-life insurance services in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. BTA employs more than 1,000 employees in the Baltics. The largest shareholder of BTA is Vienna Insurance Group AG with close to 200 years of experience in the insurance business. With about 50 companies in 25 countries and more than 25,000 employees, Vienna Insurance Group is the clear market leader in its CEE markets. Vienna Insurance Group is the best-rated company of ATX, the leading index of Vienna Stock Exchange with a rating of A+ with stable outlook from Standard & Poor’s; its share is also listed on the Prague Stock Exchange.

Additional information:

Elīna Rasmane

Marketing and Public Relations Department Director

BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS

e-mail elina.rasmane@bta.lv