Statistics show that most accidents involving cyclists occur during daylight hours, not at night.
Camera IconStatistics show that most accidents involving cyclists occur during daylight hours, not at night. Credit: Supplied/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Opinion: Curfew not a solution

Andrew Priest, Bicyle rider and motor vehicle operatorFremantle Gazette

I am writing in reply to Mr Frank Granger (Cycle Curfew, Fremantle Gazette, November 14).

The writer’s claim that most accidents (actually crashes, not accidents) usually happen early morning or late afternoon caught my attention so I did a fact check.

Referring to the Australian Roads Death Database, 252 cyclist fatalities are listed for the period 2011-2017.

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Assuming for simplicity’s sake the hours of daylight are between 7am and 6pm, I note that 70 deaths occurred during the hours of darkness and 182 during daylight hours.

It seems that most crashes actually occur during the day.

Of greater concern, however, is that during that same period there were 8412 deaths on our roads of which 253 where cyclists.

Mr Granger needs to rethink his priorities and reflect on where the real issue lies.

We can of course then go into the data analysis (well published) showing where the highest risk is to bicycle riders and that is I am afraid the motorist (80 per cent of bicycle rider fatalities are the fault of motorists).

So no, Mr Granger, your curfew is not a solution.

I suggest rather that you might want to start with respecting all road users, regardless of their choice of transport. After all, it comes down to common sense, care and courtesy.