title: Single- versus multi-vehicle bicycle road crashes in Victoria, Australia.
abstract: The aim of the study is to compare trends, circumstances and outcomes of single- versus multi-vehicle bicycle on-road crashes in Victoria, Australia, through the analysis of police records and hospital admissions between January 2004 and December 2008. The results show that over 80% of on-road single-vehicle bicycle crashes occurred as a result of the cyclist losing control of the bicycle with the remainder involving collisions with objects. Compared with multi-vehicle crashes, single-vehicle crashes were more likely to occur in the dark, in wet conditions and in rural areas. Over half of the cyclists hospitalised as result of on-road crashes were injured in single-vehicle crashes and this proportion seems to be increasing over time. Single-vehicle crashes were associated with hospitalised injuries as severe as those resulting from multivehicle crashes. The findings highlight the significant burden of serious injury associated with single-vehicle bicycle road crashes. Further research is needed to investigate in greater detail the risk factors of these crashes and the effectiveness of countermeasures to reduce their burden.
authors: Transport and Road Safety (TARS) Research, The University of NSW, , Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors: Soufiane
authors: S
authors: Boufous
authors: Liz
authors: L
authors: de Rome
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Senserrick
authors: Rebecca Q
authors: RQ
authors: Ivers
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult