Cyclists' share of total road deaths in the EU is 8% and on a slowly rising trend. The EU works in various areas to make cycling safer. Most recent Thematic Report on Cyclists.
Compulsory safety measures
There are a few basic safety features – brakes, bell and reflectors – that are compulsory for bikes in every EU country. And some countries go beyond this, with additional requirements for visibility, helmets, children's seats and a minimum age for cycling on roads.
Vehicle design & technology
Better designs for cars and heavy vehicles can reduce the risk of injury to cyclists, especially crash-friendly car fronts and blind-spot mirrors on lorries. And some new cars are equipped with cyclist detection systems that can automatically activate the brakes to avoid accidents.
Infrastructure & traffic management
Separating bikes from other traffic on uninterrupted cycling lanes helps reduce collisions with cars. Lower speed limits (30 km/h or 20 mph) also help.
Projects funded by the EU
- SAFECYCLE ran until 2012 and identified a number of e-safety applications.
- BIKEPAL raises awareness of bike safety issues among both policymakers and university students.