Heavy Vehicles Pose Increased Fatal Risk to Cyclists and Pedestrians, RTL Nieuws Investigation Finds
Our cars are getting bigger and heavier, and there are more of them on the road. While this trend has improved safety for drivers, it has not had the same effect for cyclists and pedestrians, according to an RTL Nieuws investigation.
The number of crashes involving heavy vehicles resulting in cyclist or pedestrian injuries or fatalities has increased by 27% since 2018. The situation is even more alarming for vehicles exceeding 1,500 kg, where the number of such crashes has nearly doubled.
The increase in heavy vehicles on the road is one factor contributing to this trend. However, RTL Nieuws’ analysis of over 50,000 crashes between 2018 and 2023 also revealed that crashes involving heavy vehicles are 20% more likely to result in a fatality for cyclists or pedestrians compared to the average.
Serious Concerns Raised by Experts
University of Amsterdam professor Marco te Brömmelstroet, known as the ‘bicycle professor,’ echoed these findings and expressed grave concerns. "It’s unbelievable that we’re allowing this to happen. It’s a confirmation of something we’ve been worried about for a long time, but that we’ve failed to take meaningful action on."
Te Brömmelstroet notes that while safety features have made cars safer for their occupants, they have become more dangerous for those around them. "They’re much more dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians," he says.
Devastating Impact on Victims
Revalidatiearts Anna Zielman-Blokhuis from the Sint Maartenskliniek in Nijmegen sees firsthand the devastating impact of these crashes. She watches as patients struggle with mobility issues or an inability to perform simple daily tasks due to broken bones or brain injuries.
"When I hear those numbers, it scares me. I think about those young people who were full of life and whose lives will never be the same. And then I think that every person who falls victim to this is one too many," she says.
‘Automotive Obesity’
Te Brömmelstroet warns against the growing threat of ‘automotive obesity’ in our cities.zwischen 1990 en 2024 heeft het gewicht van de best verkochte nieuwe auto met ruim 1000 kilogram.toenemen. De best verkochte nieuwe auto in 1990, de Opel Kadett, was meer dan
1000 kilo lichter dan de best verkochte auto in 2024, de Tesla Model Y.
"We need to do something about the increase in this danger to people in the public space of our cities," Te Brömmelstroet argues. He believes that banning heavy vehicles from the roads is one option, while some cities are already implementing measures like higher parking fees for large vehicles or stricter penalties for offenses.
Minister Refrains from Higher Parking Fees
Infrastructure and Water Management Minister Barry Madlener acknowledges that every traffic victim has a "heartbreaking story," but states that his ministry advocates for safe vehicles. While he agrees that heavy vehicles can cause more damage to cyclists and pedestrians, he notes that they are also less likely to be involved in accidents.
The minister does not support higher parking fees for heavy vehicles, stating that they are already quite high. However, he leaves the decision to implement 30 km/h zones or other measures to local authorities, such as municipalities.
Methodology
For this investigation, RTL Nieuws used data provided by Rijkswaterstaat, which collects information from the police on traffic accidents. The dataset used consists of all accidents between 2018 and 2024 involving a maximum of one passenger car and one or more cyclists or pedestrians. Accidents where the car was stationary were excluded.
Rijkswaterstaat provided additional information on the involved vehicles, including length, width, height, weight, date of first registration, make, and model. The accidents were then categorized based on the vehicle weight.
To calculate the risk of a fatal accident, RTL Nieuws used a methodology developed by the Belgian traffic institute VIAS. This involved dividing the total number of fatal accidents in each category by the total number of registered accidents and multiplying the result by 1,000 to obtain the ‘severity factor.’ This factor is 20% higher for heavier vehicles (over 1,500 kg) compared to the average.
RTL Nieuws’ analysis is based on all accidents registered in the Netherlands (BRON). Not every crash is recorded due to factors like the absence of police at the scene or failure to file a report.
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