Accident - Cycling without lights

01 Sept 2017 Examples of accidents & crash tests
Sequence of events:
The driver of a semitrailer tractor with tipper was waiting at a roadworks traffc light at night in a builtup area. A cyclist approached from the left and rode past the truck. When the lights turned green, the truck set off. To drive around the traffic lights, which were positioned on the road, and past the roadworks, the driver steered left. During this maneuver, the front left corner of the truck collided with the cyclist. The cyclist was then run over by the truck, suffering fatal injuries.The bicycle’s lights were defective, and the cyclist was wearing dark, low-contrast clothing. For the truck driver, the cyclist would have been only fleetingly visible in the wide-angle mirror.
Vehicles:
Bicycle Semitrailer tractor
Consequences/injuries:
The cyclist was fatally injured. Cause/problem: Riding past the truck at an unsuitable place; defective bicycle lights; dark, low-contrast clothing worn by the cyclist; large areas insufficiently visible or invisible from the truck.
Avoidance measures, mitigation of consequences/ strategy for road safety measures:
  • Not passing vehicles at unsuitable places.
  • Ensuring your own safety by making sure that your bicycle lights work and are on and by wearing high-visibility, contrasting clothing.