Analysis of Police Collision Files, London - TRL Report

[Origamist]

Released today:

http://londonroadsafety.tfl.gov.uk/...research_police-collision-files_2001-2006.pdf

 

[Bollo]

Thanks O,

I've just read through the Exec summary as I cooking dinner at the mo', but an interesting read.

 

[benborp]

I'll have a thorough read over the next couple of days. Thanks Matt.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

I have just looked at the primary causes - shocked to see 4 deaths from parked cars door openings! How fast would you need to be going? Or is it just 'unluckiness' depending on where the door catches you (and how hard you connect to the road if you go headfirst into it?).

Also interesting to note 6 deaths due to cyclist jumping red lights where only 1 due to another vehicle jumping red lights.....

Not too sure by the 'cyclist was riding across road' - 11 deaths due to this - is this effectively 'jaywalking' on a bike (for want of a better way to phrase it)?

Also surprised to see 11 deaths from 'rear endings'.

I am sure more details await in the rest of the report!

Thanks for the link!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Funny that... one of the authours is...

A Wheeler!

 

[byegad]

I read it expecting it to blame cyclists and call for an immediate imposition of helmets for cycling.

I was pleasantly at the thoughtful and careful analysis of the whole problem and their comments on helmets were in the most part very fair. I say the most part because as yet there seems to be little appetite to analyse the benefits and otherwise of wearing a helmet. I would like to see that research concentrate on the protection afforded and any possible extra injuries caused by helmet use.

 

[jonesy]

I read it expecting it to blame cyclists and call for an immediate imposition of helmets for cycling.

I was pleasantly at the thoughtful and careful analysis of the whole problem and their comments on helmets were in the most part very fair. I say the most part because as yet there seems to be little appetite to analyse the benefits and otherwise of wearing a helmet. I would like to see that research concentrate on the protection afforded and any possible extra injuries caused by helmet use.

There is actually a much larger project going on at the moment, funded by DfT, which is looking in more detail at the effectiveness of helmets:
http://www.trl.co.uk/news/latest_ne...um_to_review_road_user_safety_and_cycling.htm

 

[Cab]

I have just looked at the primary causes - shocked to see 4 deaths from parked cars door openings!

And as you point out 6 from cyclists going through red lights? Statistically so little difference between the two as to be quite amazing.

Puts it into perspective; RLJing is clearly wrong, but it ain't all that dangerous.

How fast would you need to be going? Or is it just 'unluckiness' depending on where the door catches you (and how hard you connect to the road if you go headfirst into it?).

Come off at speed and you can hurt yourself badly. I'm not sure why your'e surprised; I'll wager that aside from 6 deaths there would have been DOZENS of injuries caused by this.

 

[dellzeqq]

I have just looked at the primary causes - shocked to see 4 deaths from parked cars door openings! How fast would you need to be going?

one of our DA members died after being doored in Epsom High Street. He wasn't going quickly. Very sad.

 

[Origamist]

KSIs resulting from a door being opened into a cyclist's path are usually in the top five cyclist KSIs by "road manoeuvre".

Try to stay out of the door zone - 4 feet is usually sufficient. If you're going to ride in the door zone, ride slowly and keep checking for signs of a possible dooring.

 

[Bollo]

Dooring is one of those things that sound much more benign than it really is. An open car door is likely to bring you to a pretty rapid stop, dumping a whole load of kinetic energy in a very short space of time to your head or internal organs .

By comparison, falling off a bike or some collisions may leave you bouncing down the road, but the energy dissipation is much less rapid.

The ONLY time I've ever proffered advice to a fellow cyclist was a door-zoner who was riding about 2 inches from parked cars down a road in Basingstoke that I call 'door alley'. Its free, short-term parking close to the town centre and there's always someone pulling away or jumping out of their car in a particular hurry. Downhill as well, so the door's going to catch you doing a fair lick. Recently reported on here what I'm sure was a deliberate attempt to door me down this road, but old bollo keeps well away from the door zone.

 

[BentMikey]

Try to stay out of the door zone - 4 feet is usually sufficient. If you're going to ride in the door zone, ride slowly and keep checking for signs of a possible dooring.

The American video says 7 feet, and cyclecraft 5. I reckon many doors probably stick out more than 4 feet once fully opened, plus I'd want a bit of wiggle room on top of the door width.

 

[Cab]

The American video says 7 feet, and cyclecraft 5. I reckon many doors probably stick out more than 4 feet once fully opened, plus I'd want a bit of wiggle room on top of the door width.

4 feet will still leave you swerving out, its close enough that you can't be entirely sure you'll miss it. 5 feet or more gives you the security of knowing it is unlikely you'll have to swerve further out into other traffic.

 

[Origamist]

The American video says 7 feet, and cyclecraft 5. I reckon many doors probably stick out more than 4 feet once fully opened, plus I'd want a bit of wiggle room on top of the door width.

Very, very few doors fully extend beyond 48". I'd be interested if people could provide measurements of car door widths as I think a database would be useful.

Here's a table of (generally wider) US door widths:

1996 Saturn wagon, 35"
1997 Ford Taurus, 35"
1998 Town & Country van, 35"
1999 Suburu Legacy wagon, 36"
2001 Honda CRV, 36"
2001 Escort, 36"
1995 Honda Civic, 37"
1999 Jeep Gr. Cherokee, 39"
1995 Nissan Maxima, 40"
1995 Lincoln Town Car, 40"
1988 Chevrolet C1500, 37"
1994 Geo Metro, 39"
1996 GMC 3/4 ton, 39"
1990 Tempo, 44"
1991 LeBaron, 44"
1996 Chevrolet Z28, 44"
1996 Monte Carlo, 45"
1999 Cavalier, 45"​

As you see, none extend beyond 4 feet. A few coupes might make 4ft, but the only one I can recall is a Bentley Continental. Also the door hinges do not allow the door to open 90 degrees, meaning the quoted widths will actually be less when the door is fully opened. That said, 4ft will be insufficient in some circumstances.

4 feet will still leave you swerving out, its close enough that you can't be entirely sure you'll miss it. 5 feet or more gives you the security of knowing it is unlikely you'll have to swerve further out into other traffic.

Where possible, I'd say 6 feet (a car's width). However, this is rarely possible when you are riding on a road with double parked cars; 5ft is also not practical on much of the UK's narrow roads. That's why I am reconciled to operate in the 4ft to 5ft zone (and sometimes less), even though it is sub-optimal.

 

[Cab]

Where possible, I prefer 6 feet (a car's width). However, this is rarely possible when you are riding on a road with double parked cars, 5ft is great but simply not practical on much of the UK's narrow roads either. That's why I am reconciled to operate in the 4ft to 5ft zone (and sometimes less), even though it is sub-optimal.

A narrow road with parked cars making a 5' gap impossible is a common hazard; the only solution is to slow up and keep a keen eye out and pass with as much distance as you can. Of course that does tend to make any car drivers you're sharing the road with most angry...