Bicyclists
Two percent of motor vehicle-related deaths are bicyclists. The most serious injuries among a majority of those killed are to the head-highlighting the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet. Helmet use has been estimated to reduce head injury risk by 85 percent. Helmets are important for riders of all ages, especially because more than 80 percent of bicyclist deaths are persons 16 and older. A total of 782 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles in 2005. This is down 22 percent since 1975 but 25 percent more than in 2003. Men have a higher rate of bicycle deaths than women from 1975-2005.
Department of Transportation:
safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/docs/bikecrash_iihs.pdf