Tragic accident: cyclists die after collision with a car in Neuenstein

Tragic accident: cyclists die after collision with a car in Neuenstein

A tragic accident at Neuenstein in the Hohenlohe district occurred on Wednesday night, which ended fatally for a 76-year-old cyclist. The man crossed the L1036 around 11 p.m. and did not notice an approximation car in time. This meant that he collided headally with the vehicle of a 26-year-old who came from Öhringen. The impact was so violent that the cyclist was thrown onto the bonnet and flew about 20 meters into a green strip. Despite the wearing of a helmet, which, according to [ich-trag-helm.de] (https://ich-trag-helm.de/Swissensichliche-studien-belegen-behen-bleben-des- des Fahrradhelm), usually reduces the risk of serious head injuries, he died at the scene of the accident, although resuscitation measures were initiated.

The driver of the car suffered a shock and it was a difficult situation for everyone involved. Some first aiders even needed care by emergency pastors on site to process the experienced. The country road remained closed until the early hours of the morning, and another car was damaged by parts of the accident. In order to clarify the exact causes, the public prosecutor has ordered an expert opinion.

more security through helmets

This incident again raises the question of the safety of cyclists. The helmet trage quota in Germany is interesting: in 2021, almost 32% of the cyclists regularly wore a helmet, which means 5% increase compared to the previous year (ich-trag-helm.de). In children between the ages of 6 and 10, the quota is even 78%, while only 38% of the helmets are set up for young people between the ages of 11 and 16. The decline in the helmettrage quota for young people is particularly alarming.

Statistical evaluations have shown that wearing a helmet can prevent 20-80% of the head injuries from cycling. Analyzes show that only 16% of the injured cyclists in Münster wore a helmet. In fatal accidents only 5% wore a helmet. Older cyclists are particularly affected: in 2019, over 65-year-olds provided more than half of the cyclists killed. This underlines the importance of carrying the helmet, especially for this age group, which often use pedelecs.

infrastructure and helmet trage quota

Another investigation shows that a good cycling infrastructure is an important factor for security. In countries such as the Netherlands, where there is hardly a helmet obligation, the helmet trage quota is very low despite high bicycle use with only 1.1%. This means that the Netherlands are one of the safest countries for cyclists worldwide, especially through massive investments in the bicycle infrastructure since the 1970s (Dekra Road Safety). Denmark follows with a helmet trag ratio of 19.9%, while in London many cyclists wear safety clothing to be better perceived.

The discussion about the help of the helmet has assumed extensive dimensions. Education initiatives that are distributed free of charge and are carried out in schools show significant successes, especially in young people. Regardless of the infrastructure, the helmet remains an indispensable security utensil that can save life in road traffic.