Bicyclists are minimally or unprotected road users. Their vulnerability results in a high injury risk despite their relatively low own speed. However, the actual injury situation of bicyclists has not been investigated very well so far. The purpose of this study was to analyze the actual injury situation of bicyclists in Germany to create a basis for effective preventive measures. Technical and medical data were prospectively collected shortly after the accident at the accident scenes and medical institutions providing care for the injured. Data of injured bicyclists from 1985 to 2003 were analyzed for the following parameters: collision opponent, collision type, collision speed (km/h), Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), Maximum AIS (MAIS), incidence of polytrauma (Injury Severity Score >16), incidence of death (death before end of first hospital stay). 4,264 injured bicyclists were included. 55% were male and 45% female. The age was grouped to preschool age in 0.9%, 6 to 12 years in 10.8%, 13 to 17 years in 10.4%, 18 to 64 years in 64.7%, and over 64 years in 13.2%. The MAIS was 1 in 78.8%, 2 in 17.0%, 3 in 3.0%, 4 in 0.6%, 5 in 0.4%, and 6 in 0.2%. The incidence of polytrauma was 0.9%, and the incidence of death was 0.5%. The incidence of injuries to different body regions was as follows: head, 47.8%; neck, 5.2%, thorax, 21%; upper extremities, 46.3%; abdomen, 5.8%; pelvis, 11.5%, lower extremities, 62.1%. The accident location was urban in 95.2%, and rural in 4.8%. The accidents happened during daylight in 82.4%, during night in 12.2%, and during dawn/dusk in 5.3%. The road situation was as follows: straight, 27.3%; bend, 3.0%; junction, 32.0%; crossing, 26.4%; gate, 5.9%; others, 5.4%. The collision opponents were cars in 65.8%, trucks in 7.2%, bicycles in 7.4%, standing objects in 8.8%, multiple objects in 4.3%, and others in 6.5%. The collision speed was grouped <31 in 77.9%, 31-50 in 4.9%, 51-70 in 3.7%, and >70 in 1.5%. The helmet use rate was 1.5%. 68% of the registered head injuries were located in the effective helmet protection area. In bicyclists, head and extremities are at high risk for injuries. The helmet use rate is unsatisfactorily low. Remarkably, two thirds of the head injuries could have been prevented by helmets. Accidents are concentrated to crossings, junctions and gates. A significant lower mean injury severity was observed in victims using separate bicycle lanes. These results do strongly support the extension or addition of bicycle lanes and their consequent use. However, the lanes are frequently interrupted at crossings and junctions. This emphasizes also the important endangering of bicyclists coming from crossings, junctions and gates, i.e. all situations in which contact of bicyclists to motorized vehicles is possible. Redesigning junctions and bicycle traffic lanes to minimize the possibility of this dangerous contact would be preventive measures. A more consequent helmet use and use and an extension of bicycle paths for a better separation of bicyclists and motorized vehicle would be simple but very effective preventive measures.
The primary goal of this investigation was to determine the relative risk of traffic accidents in students. In a two year period, a survey amongst 2,325 students was carried out, and 3,645 injuries sustained by students treated at our hospital were analyzed. Moped-riding in adolescents were associated with a 23.75-fold increased risk for injury as compared to biking. Children who ride bicycles have a 2.2-fold increased risk for an injury sustained by traffic accidents compared to pedestrians. None of 50 injured bicycle riders with helmet had an AIS for head injuries of more than 2. 24 of 233 injured bicycle drivers without helmet had an AIS for head injuries of more than 2. The use of a protective helmet significantly reduced the severity of head injuries. The level of awareness towards danger and a history of previous accidents correlate with the likelihood of future accidents. Due to the severity of traffic accidents, more adequate prevention measures (wearing of bicycle helmets and better education for moped riders) are urgently needed.
Die vorliegende Studie befasst sich mit der Untersuchung der aktiven Sicherheit von Motorradschutzhelmen. Es wurden auf einander abgestimmte Messungen in den Untersuchungsfeldern Aeroakustik, Aerodynamik, Temperaturverhalten (Belüftungssystem) und psychophysiologische Leistungs- und Befindlichkeitsparameter (Elektrokardiogramm, Elektromyogramm, elektrodermale Aktivität) sowohl in einem Windkanal und als auch in Form systematischer Fahrversuche (Messfahrten) durchgeführt. Grundsätzlich wurden die Messungen in den drei Geschwindigkeitsbereichen 80, 120 und 160 km/h mit einem unverkleideten Motorrad der Mittelklasse (650 ccm, ABS) absolviert. Untersuchungsgegenstand waren hierbei 12 unterschiedliche, entsprechend ausgewählte, aktuelle ECE-R 22.05 geprüfte Helme. Während auftretende Halskräfte mit einem Kraftmessroboter (dreiachsig) erfasst wurden, diente eine Messpuppe mit Head Acoustic Kunstkopf zur Aufzeichnung von Schalldruckpegeln Eine identische Akustikmesskette konnte in Verbindung mit In-Ear Mikrofonen bei den Messfahrten eingesetzt werden. Die psychophysiologischen Parameter wurden mittels einer mobilen, achtkanaligen Messkette und entsprechend adaptierten Modulen erfasst. Mit der gleichen Messkette wurden die Temperaturverläufe mittels sieben Temperatursensoren (davon ein Referenzwertgeber) zwischen Kopfoberfläche und Helminneren registriert. Der Helmaufbau wurde computertomographisch und zerlegend untersucht. Auf der Grundlage der Ergebnisse können folgende Empfehlungen bezüglich der aktiven Helmsicherheit gemacht werden: - Aeroakustik: Die Messungen lassen Gehör schädigende Schalldruckpegel (Maximalwerte 110 dB(A)) erkennen. - Aerodynamik: Bei einer Geschwindigkeit von 160 km/h wurden Werte für die Auftriebskraft (z-Richtung) zwischen 13 und 28 N ermittelt; für die Widerstandskraft (x-Richtung) solche zwischen 29 und 40 N. Ein akuter Bedarf an Anforderungsformulierungen wurde nicht erkennbar. Temperatur und Belüftungssystem: Maximaltemperaturen waren nicht höher als 36-°C. Nur bei fünf Helmen war unmittelbar nach öffnen der Belüftung ein Kühleffekt messbar. Anhand identifizierter Funktionsdefizite und Gestaltungsfehler von Belüftungssystemen konnten Verbesserungshinweise abgeleitet werden.