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Prohibited and dangerous: using mobile phones while cycling
Photo: Geber86 / Getty Images
Last year there were 91,533 bicycle accidents with personal injury on Germany's roads and paths, 426 cyclists died. Statistics show that cars were the most common opponents of accidents (71.9 percent). The constellation seems clear - here the inattentive driver, there the vulnerable cyclist. And that's often enough, for example in accidents that are caused by careless opening of the doors when getting out of the car or by inattentive right turns.
Interesting, however: In a total of 49.4 percent of the cases, the cyclists were the main cause of their accidents.
A recent survey provides an indication of the underlying mechanisms: Distraction in traffic is therefore not only a problem for drivers, but also for cyclists.
For example, 27 percent of the 1200 cyclists surveyed admitted that they could listen to music on the go.
In the age group from 18 to 24, it was almost three quarters (71 percent).
According to Allianz 1205, the market research institute Ipsos Nuremberg interviewed selected cyclists by telephone for the survey.
It turned out that navigation systems and electronic speedometers are meanwhile also widespread in cycling - with a corresponding potential for distraction: more than a quarter (27 percent) of all participants have a display attached to their bike.
Of the 18- to 24-year-olds, eleven percent admit that they make frequent calls on the bike, 15 percent are frequent short message writers.
Penalties threaten
According to Allianz calculations, the use of electronic devices increases the risk of accidents considerably, even in comparatively slow bicycle traffic.
Those who wear headphones have an increased risk of accidents by over 50 percent.
The same applies to looking at the navigation device: "That clearly distracts you from traffic and increases the risk of accidents by almost 40 percent," said Allianz board member Jochen Haug.
The rules for the use of electronic devices on the bike can be found in the road traffic regulations: Even when cycling, any electronic device in hand is prohibited, the operation of devices attached to the bike must be adapted to the traffic conditions.
Violations cost 55 to 100 euros.
chs / dpa