In recent years, with the rapid increase in the number of electric bicycles worldwide, this convenient and environmentally friendly means of transportation has gradually been warmly sought after by consumers. However, at the same time, the safety issues of electric bicycles are becoming increasingly prominent, especially in Germany, one of the largest consumers of electric bicycles in Europe, where the accident rate related to electric bicycles has significantly increased.
The number of accidents has increased nearly tenfold
As sales of electric bicycles in Germany soar, safety hazards are becoming increasingly prominent. From a data perspective, the number of electric bicycles in Germany has shown an explosive growth in recent years. From 2014 to 2022, the proportion of households in Germany owning electric bicycles has increased from 3.4% to 15.5%. At the same time, the number of electric bicycles on the road has surged from approximately 2.1 million in 2014 to 9.8 million in 2022. The significant increase undoubtedly poses a huge challenge to road safety.
The widespread use of electric bicycles has brought convenience to people's travel, but it has also led to a continuous increase in accident rates. In 2023, the number of accidents involving electric bicycles and resulting in injuries reached approximately 23900, an increase of nearly ten times compared to approximately 2200 in 2014. More seriously, the mortality rate of
Electric Bicycle accidents is also continuously increasing. In 2023, the number of deaths caused by electric bicycle accidents reached 188, compared to only 39 in 2014.
High risk of injury and death in electric bicycle accidents
Compared to non motorized bicycles, electric bicycles are more likely to cause personal injury accidents and lead to death. According to statistical data, in every 1000 accidents involving electric bicycles in Germany, an average of 7.9 riders die, while the average death toll on bicycles is 3.6, which is much higher than that of non motorized bicycles.
In contrast, the number of non motorized bicycle accidents decreased by approximately 7% from 2014 to 2023. In 2023, approximately 70900 people were injured due to non motorized bicycles; In 2014, there were 76073 people. During this period, the number of deaths also decreased: in 2023, 256 people died from non motorized bicycles, compared to 357 in 2014.
The higher speed and power of electric bicycles undoubtedly increase the risk of injury for cyclists in accidents. At the same time, the number of accidents involving ordinary bicycles is decreasing, which further highlights the seriousness of safety issues related to electric bicycles.
Age characteristics exacerbate accident risk
The age characteristics of electric bicycle riders also increase the risk of accidents. According to data from the Federal Bureau of Statistics, the average age of electric bicycle accidents is 53 years old, much higher than the 42 years old of ordinary cyclists. In 2019, 60% of electric bicycle users who died in Germany were over 70 years old. Due to the higher risk of serious injury or death in falls among the elderly compared to young people, this age difference also leads to a higher mortality rate in electric bicycle accidents.
But with the increasing popularity of electric bicycles, the user group is also undergoing changes. In the past, electric bicycles were mainly favored by the elderly, but now more and more young people are choosing this convenient and environmentally friendly way of transportation. In 2014, more than half of the users of electric bicycle accidents were over 65 years old. By 2023, this proportion has dropped to one-third, and the age structure of the accident population is showing a younger trend. At the same time, the number of serious injuries and deaths has correspondingly decreased.
The rapid popularity of electric bicycles worldwide has indeed brought unprecedented convenience and efficiency to people's travel. However, the safety issues hidden behind them have gradually surfaced. How to address travel safety hazards in a targeted manner while ensuring travel experience, firmly holding onto the bottom line of safe travel, and creating a broader green travel future is undoubtedly an important issue that the electric bicycle industry needs to continue to explore and solve in depth.
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