Key Findings
A total of 26,561 casualties (fatal, serious and slight) were recorded for all road user types between January 2020 and November 2024. Pedal cyclists accounted for 9% of the overall casualties (n=2,341), despite only representing 1% of the traffic volume.
2,314 collisions involving pedal cyclists took place. This resulted in 32 fatal, 916 serious 1,366 slight severity collisions.
2,341 pedal cyclist casualties were recorded during the reporting period. This resulted in 32 fatalities, 138 very serious, 153 moderately serious, 625 less serious and 1,393 slight severity casualties.
2020 accounted for the highest number of fatal (n=11), serious (n=247) and slight (n=344) severity collisions.
Whilst serious and slight collisions reduced during the reporting period, fatal collisions spiked in 2023.
Whilst most collisions occurred during spring and summer time (n=1,363), notably 951 collisions took place throughout the autumn and winter period, between September and February.
The majority of fatal collisions occurred on weekdays (n=26), most of which took place outwith traditional commuting hours.
‘C’ Division (Forth Valley) recorded the highest number of pedal cyclist-related fatalities (n=5), with 80% of these having taken place in 2021 (n=4).
‘G’ Division (Greater Glasgow) recorded the highest number of serious collisions (n=211), and ‘E’ Division (Edinburgh City) recorded the most slight collisions (n=380).
Junctions were prominent locations for collisions, with 14 of the 32 fatal collisions occurring at or close to a type of Junction: T-Junction (n=6), Crossroad Junction (n=4), a Junction (n=4). Roundabouts were also identified to pose significant risk, with 110 serious and 199 slight collisions taking place.
Whilst fatal collisions most commonly occurred on ‘A’ class roads, serious severity collisions most commonly took place on unclassified roads/residential streets. Sixteen of the 32 fatalities took place on a road with a 60mph speed limit, with fifteen having taken place on 30mph speed limit roads. Most serious and slight collisions occurred on 30mph speed limit roads.
The only roads which recorded more than one fatal collision were the A814 and the A710 (each n=2). Regardless of severity, throughout the reporting period, the A8 is the highest risk road for collisions involving pedal cycles (n=30 serious, n=41 slight), followed by the A77 (n=15 serious, n=27 slight). Notably, these roads remain the highest risk roads in 2024, with ten collisions on the A77 and nine on the A8. Additionally, the A82 and A7 also recorded eight collisions each in 2024.
Nine fatal collisions, 47 serious and 63 slight collisions occurred as a result of another vehicle travelling ‘too close to cyclist’. The nine fatal collisions primarily occurred during daylight hours, though notably five of the fatal collisions occurred during winter months between November and February.
No fatal collisions occurred as a result of the cyclist being ‘Impaired by Alcohol or Drugs’. Ten serious collisions occurred where the cyclist was believed to be ‘Impaired by Alcohol’. Nine of whom were male, with almost half of whom were in the 40-49 age group (n=4). More than half (60%) of the ten collisions took place on the weekends (n=6). Six out of the ten collisions occurred between 16:00 hours and 23:00 hours, with three of these occurring on a Friday. One serious collision occurred where the cyclist was believed to be ‘Impaired by Drugs’.
No fatal collisions occurred as a result of the cyclist being distracted by use of a mobile phone. Though one person was wearing ear bud style headphones at the time of a fatal collision.
Twenty seven of the 32 fatal pedal cyclist collisions involved more than one vehicle, with cars having the greatest representation. Five fatal collisions involved the pedal cyclist only.
Twenty two of the 32 fatal collisions involved a pedal cyclist, and one vehicle (two in total), four fatal collisions involved a pedal cyclist and two vehicles (three in total), and one fatal collision involved a pedal cyclist and three vehicles (four in total).
More than half (n=19) of the 32 fatal pedal cyclist collisions involved a motor vehicle being ‘at fault’. The remaining 13 collisions involved the pedal cyclist being ‘at fault’. Note: ‘At fault’ indicates that the behaviour / actions of the driver/rider are likely to have contributed to the occurrence of the collision. It should be noted that more than one road user can be found ‘at fault’ in any given collision.