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California Traffic Deaths 2002 - 2008
Bicycle Deaths and Alcohol Involvement
                                                         For Bike Maps Go Here
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Finding for 2008: 

+  There were 131 fatal crashes involving bicyclists in 2008 .

+  The number of male bicyclist deaths is much greater than for females.

+  The police determined that in 67% of involving a bicyclist the bicyclist was at fault.

+ 63% of those killed were over 41.

+  Overall the pattern of bike deaths is very similar to that of all traffic deaths.

  +  67% of bicyclists deaths occurred in cities not on numbered highways.

                                           




+  There were 131 bike deaths in 2008.

+  For males, the number of bicyclist deaths is California has been slowly rising since 1998.

+  For females, the number of bicyclist deaths is much lower and is comparatively steady.







+ There were 14 female bicyclists killed and 117 males.

+ 63% of those killed were over 41.

+ The overall age distribution of population is much different.  Whether the age distribution of the overall bicyclist population is not known.





For every traffic crash the police make a determination of who was at fault.

+  There were 131 fatal crashes involving bicyclists in 2008.

+  The police determined that in 67% of these cases the bicyclist was at fault.  In 17 cases there no other vehicle involved.


California 2008 - Bicyclist Deaths by Violation and Fault



Fault Total
Motor Vehicle Bike

Unknown Count 5 0 5
% within Violation 100.0% .0% 100.0%
DUI Count 10 12 22
% within Violation 45.5% 54.5% 100.0%
Speeding Count 5 6 11
% within Violation 45.5% 54.5% 100.0%
Wrong Side Road Count 4 15 19
% within Violation 21.1% 78.9% 100.0%
Improper Pass Count 1 1 2
% within Violation 50.0% 50.0% 100.0%
Unsafe Lane Change Count 1 4 5
% within Violation 20.0% 80.0% 100.0%
Improper Turn Count 7 17 24
% within Violation 29.2% 70.8% 100.0%
Auto Right of Way Count 4 17 21
% within Violation 19.0% 81.0% 100.0%
Pedestrian viol. Count 0 1 1
% within Violation .0% 100.0% 100.0%
Traffic signals Count 3 9 12
% within Violation 25.0% 75.0% 100.0%
Lights Count 0 1 1
% within Violation .0% 100.0% 100.0%
Other Hazard. viol Count 1 1 2
% within Violation 50.0% 50.0% 100.0%
Not driver Count 1 0 1
% within Violation 100.0% .0% 100.0%
Other improper driving Count 0 2 2
% within Violation .0% 100.0% 100.0%
Total Count 42 86 128
% within Violation 32.8% 67.2% 100.0%



3 cases had no fault assigned.

+  Improper turn and auto right of way were the major violation for when the bicyclist was at fault.

+  The bicyclist had alcohol on board in 12 deaths and the driver for 10.









+  65% of bicyclists were at fault and over 41.

+ A high proportion of children and 16-20 year olds were also at fault.








+  In 19% of bicycle fatal crashes the bicyclist had consumed alcohol.




For all traffic crashes it is noted whether the crash occurred on a state or federal highway (numbered highway) or not (city street or county road.).  Similarly the data indicated whether the crash occurred in an incorporated area (city) or not.

+  67% of bicyclists deaths occurred in cities not on numbered highways.

+ Very few bicyclist deaths occur on state or federal highways.


Home Page Top 1991-2008
 2008 County Data


 I put a lot of work into this, so let me know whether you find it useful:  Comments   or email cacrash@cacrash.org