[SDCBC] Fwd: Passing side, suicide

[Serge Issakov]

Wow.  20% of all traffic deaths per year in Amsterdam (population 700k) are
cyclists killed by right hooks.
In contrast, the total number of U.S. cyclist deaths per year (about 800)
accounts for about 2% of total traffic deaths (about 40k).
I'm guessing the ratio in San Diego (population 1.3M)  is closer to 2% than
20% as well.  Anyone know?

The picture <http://www.nieuwsuitamsterdam.nl/afbeeldingen/dode_hoek.JPG> in
the article<http://www.nieuwsuitamsterdam.nl/English/2008/04/blind_spot.htm>linked
in the attached message below is a must-see.   What a death trap.

Serge

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Graff
Date: Wed, Apr 16, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Subject: [CG] Passing side, suicide
To: chainguard at yahoogroups.com


A story about right-hook fatalities in Amsterdam.  It's worth clicking
through just to see the photo of a right-hook lane, complete with
barriers that keep the cyclist in the right-hook position.

http://www.nieuwsuitamsterdam.nl/English/2008/04/blind_spot.htm

This quote is scant comfort:

"In 2006, four cyclists were killed in blind spot accidents in
Amsterdam [...]. However, Helmers points out that twenty people were
killed in traffic accidents that year. Against that background, the
amount of attention given to blind spot accidents seems exaggerated."

20 cycling fatalities in one city in one year?  In Amsterdam of all places?

20% seems like a big enough proportion to worry about, especially when
the root cause is well known.

The supposed solution?  More mirrors.

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