Serious e-bike injuries increase by more than a third
A row of e-bikes in Bern, part of a rental system
Keystone
A total of 233 people died on Swiss roads last year, three more than in 2017. Although fatalities decreased for riders of motorbikes and bicycles, deaths and serious injuries for users of e-bikes went up.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/ts
Last year in Switzerland 79 people died in cars, 42 on motorbikes, 27 on bicycles and 12 on e-bikes. In addition, 43 pedestrians were killed, the Federal Roads OfficeExternal link said on Thursday. The number of seriously injured rose 6% to 3,873.
The main causes of death or serious injury, according to the official statisticsExternal link, were not paying attention or being distracted, speeding and alcohol.
Notable changes on the previous year included fewer deaths on motorways and zebra crossings but more pedestrian deaths outside designated crossing zones. The number of old pedestrians killed crossing the road also dropped significantly.
On the other hand, 12 e-bike riders died – five more than in 2017 – and 309 were seriously injured, an increase of 38%.
Safety measures
These e-bike figures are the highest ever recorded and reflect the increasing popularity of e-bikes in Switzerland. Of the 321 deaths or serious injuries, 236 were on slow e-bikes (up to 25km/h) and 85 on fast ones.
The Federal Roads Office said it was looking into potential measures to improve safety, in particular for fast e-bikes. These include having to have lights turned on at all times and obligatory speedometers.
Compared internationally, Switzerland does well when it comes to road safety. Nevertheless, the Swiss Council for Accident PreventionExternal linksaid safety was a permanent task. Only around 50% of cyclists wear a helmet, it noted. The council also called for roundabouts to be made safer and for cars to be fitted with built-in emergency assistants, which will activate when the driver is not responsive, for example after a heart attack.
More
More
Bikes coast into Swiss constitution with clear voter support
This content was published on
Almost three-quarters of Swiss voters have approved a proposal to enshrine cycling, and cycling infrastructure, in the country’s constitution.
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
Swiss federal office sees no reason to end deportations of asylum-seekers to Croatia
This content was published on
Switzerland's State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) continues to deport asylum-seekers to Croatia. It thus rejects a demand from the Swiss Refugee Council in mid-February, which called for a halt to the returns.
ChatGPT responds to negative emotions and therapy, research shows
This content was published on
Stressful information can also cause anxiety in artificial intelligence (AI). As scientists in Zurich have shown, it's even possible to calm the GPT-4 AI model with mindfulness exercises.
Mortgage benchmark fall paves way for potential rent cuts in Switzerland
This content was published on
Switzerland’s national benchmark for mortgage costs dropped to the level it had before the global inflation surge, paving the way for potential rent reductions.
Switzerland ‘deeply concerned’ by Trump’s death penalty order
This content was published on
Switzerland has told the UN Human Rights Council that it is "deeply concerned" by US President Donald Trump's recent executive order to strengthen capital punishment at federal and state level.
Blatter, Platini return to court for new fraud trial over CHF2 million FIFA payment
This content was published on
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and former UEFA President Michel Platini appeared in court in Switzerland on Monday accused of fraud - 2.5 years after they were cleared.
Israel criticises Swiss decision to host Middle East conference in Geneva on Friday
This content was published on
Israel has condemned Switzerland for planning to host a meeting on international humanitarian law in the Middle East next Friday in Geneva.
Centre Party’s Franziska Biner elected to Valais government
This content was published on
Voters in canton Valais in southern Switzerland elected Franziska Biner to the cantonal government in the first round of voting, beating off more established politicians.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Mandatory bike helmet advocates face uphill battle
This content was published on
“I support mandatory bicycle helmets for everyone,” Reto Babst, head of trauma surgery at the Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, told swissinfo.ch. “I see so many accidents with bikes – even normal bikes, not just e-bikes – where people haven’t worn a helmet.” Every year around 900 people are seriously injured on bicycles in Switzerland, with…
This content was published on
Nearly 90,000 e-bikes were snapped up by riders looking for battery-powered assistance, according to the Swiss Bicycle Suppliers’ AssociationExternal link on Thursday. The biggest spike was in the mountain e-bike category with around 29,000 put to use on trails (an increase of 38.3%). Other bicycle segments did not fare as well. All-terrain and cyclo-cross bike…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.