Reply #75: Un-knot you panties and check your link. [View All]

[Hassin Bin Sober]

From your own home-town:

(I wonder if people like you read your own links before puking up pablum)

THIS WAS IN YOUR OWN LINK!:

http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/09/08/porland-study-finds-drivers-and-cyclists-5050-at-fault-in-accidents/


Portland study finds drivers and cyclists 50/50 at fault in accidents

As the saying goes, there are “lies, damn lies, and statistics”, and there appears to be a case for as much in cycling. We recently referenced a report through the Freakonomics blog that indicated that drivers were at fault in 90% of accidents that involve cyclists in Toronto. This finding seemed to contradict the widely held believe that cyclists are a bunch of lawless hooligans who are a threat to themselves and everyone on the road. This report certainly left a lot of cyclists (including this one) with a smug sense of superiority.

Well, it might be time for a reality check. The blog at OregonLive.com recently posted some of their own numbers based on police reports in America’s urban cycling mecca. Their study found motorists to be at fault in 53% of accidents. Now this was only a survey of accidents reported to police, but it is difficult to see how this number could get to 90% even factoring in unreported accidents and cases where the police officer’s conclusion was incorrect.

These numbers hardly leave drivers off the hook nor does it mean that the vast majority of cyclists are outlaws. Still, it does mean we have a responsibility to ride safe and not assume all motorists are out to get us.