title: Investigating the costs of major and minor cycling crashes in Tasmania, Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A pilot study to estimate the societal costs of cycling crashes in Tasmania.
  
  
  METHODS
  A telephone-based questionnaire collected information on demographics, cycling habits and details of major and minor crashes. Costs were estimated from medical resource consumption, lost work and leisure time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey was completed by 136 cyclists. Participants reported 59 major crashes in five years preceding the interview and 27 minor crashes in 12 months. Mean (standard deviation) costs/major crash were $12,499 ($14,301), including direct medical costs $2,569 ($4,523), direct non-medical costs $372 ($728), indirect costs of $6,027 ($10,092) and costs of lost leisure time $3,531 ($7,062). Costs/minor crashes were $632 ($795), including direct non-medical costs of $225 ($601), productivity losses of $117 ($210) and costs of lost leisure time $290 (622). Total annual costs of major cycling crashes in Tasmania were $4,239,097 ($4,850,255).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Indirect costs and costs due to lost leisure time are major contributors to the total societal costs. The comprehensive quantification of costs of crashes will inform decision makers formulating policies that improve the safety of cyclists leading to reductions in the economic burden on society.
authors.affiliation: Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.affiliation: Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Si
authors.affiliation: Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania.
authors.forename: Jared M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saul
authors.affiliation: Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Otahal
authors.affiliation: Menzies Research Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania.
authors.forename: Peta L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hitchens
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001642:Bicycling / Q000293:injuries* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013648:Tasmania / Q000453:epidemiology; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Australia; Tasmania; accidents; costs; cycling