Whether cycling with headphones or while checking their phones, many young people in Flanders are taking far too many risks in traffic, according to a new study by Flemish Traffic Sciences Association
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Young people taking far too much risk when cycling, according to study
Lisa Bradshaw
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According to a study just released by the Flemish Traffic Sciences Association (VSV), youth in the region are taking many unnecessary risks when cycling. “We need to be able to reach these young people and convince them to engage in safe cycling practices,” says Werner De Dobbeleer of VSV.
De Dobbeleer emphasised that the majority of the 4,000 young people aged 12 to 18 who were questioned for the study do cycle relatively safely. “But still, they sometimes take really unnecessary risks.” When they do experience a dangerous situation, it is usually because they were distracted by something they themselves are doing.
“They often listen to music using headphones covering both ears so they can’t actually hear the traffic very well,” De Dobbeleer explained. “And a large portion of them happily reach for their phones when they are biking.”
Blind spot
A full 42% of the respondents admitted to listening to music with both ears covered in the last month at least half of the time that they cycled. For 29% of them, this was the case every time they cycled. Nearly 40% said they checked their phones while actually moving on the bike during at least half of their cycling trips.
If electric scooters are added to the mix, some 14% of all youth report that they were involved in a traffic accident over the last year that was serious enough to require a trip to the doctor or hospital. “And what’s worse,” says De Dobbeleer, “is that this figure for young people riding mopeds is one in five.”
Youth were also shown a picture of a lorry stopped at a red light and asked where they should wait for the light to turn green. More than half got the question wrong, saying they would wait at the light next to the lorry or in front of it in the bike box.
The correct answer is in the bike lane but behind the lorry. The other spots put cyclists in direct danger of falling into the lorry driver’s blind spot – the cause of many deadly bicycle accidents. “This is solid proof that they still don’t know enough about cycling safety and need adequate training,” says De Dobbeleer.
Difference between boys & girls
The figures are influenced by age and especially by gender. “The older they are, the more risks they take,” says De Dobbeleer. “Boys more than girls, and the boys in technical and vocational schools even more than the boys in general secondary schools.”
The VSV calls for a structured approach to cycling education in Flanders and not just among children. Secondary school pupils also need courses, or refresher courses, according to the association.