Safety Recommendation H-72-010

Details

Synopsis:	THE REPORT REVIEWS THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM, AND EMPHASIZE THAT THE MAJORITY OF LOSSES AND INJURIES ARE AMONG CHILDREN 5 TO 14 YEARS OLD. IN EACH OF THE PAST 3 YEARS, 800 OR MORE FATALITIES OCCURRED IN COLLISIONS BETWEEN BICYCLES AND MOTOR CARS. THE STATUS OF KNOWLEDGE IS REVIEWED, AND THE MEAGERNESS OF THIS KNOWLEDGE IS POINTED UP. THE NEED FOR MUCH MORE STUDY IS PART OF THE PROBLEM. NO CLEARLY FEASIBLE AND EFFECTIVE COUNTERMEASURES ARE READILY AT HAND. THE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) ARE REVIEWED BRIEFLY, AND THE VERY LIMITED ACTIONS. THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEPT. OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE ARE REVIEWED BRIEFLY.
Recommendation:	THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF BICYCLES FOR REASONS OF REDUCTION OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND AIR POLLUTION AND PROMOTION OF HEALTHFUL EXERCISE, THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED TO ASSURE THAT SAFETY IS GIVEN FULL CONSIDERATION.
Original recommendation transmittal letter:
Overall Status:	Closed - Acceptable Action
Mode:	Highway
Location:	Washington, DC, United States
Is Reiterated:	No
Is Hazmat:	No
Is NPRM:	No
Accident #:	80542
Accident Reports:
Report #:	HSS-72-01
Accident Date:	6/14/1972
Issue Date:	4/5/1972
Date Closed:	1/1/1980
Addressee(s) and Addressee Status:	DOT (Closed - Acceptable Action)
Keyword(s):

Safety Recommendation History

From:	DOT
To:	NTSB
Date:	6/20/1972
Response:	ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SAFETY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, DOT, ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF REPORT AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO RESPONSES OF DOT OPERATING ADMINISTRATIONS. IN RESPONSE TO THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND BICYCLE SAFETY SPECIAL STUDY REPORTS, DOT APPOINTED A PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE SAFETY COORDINATING COMMITTEE. THIS COMMITTEE IS COMPOSED OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NHTSA, FHWA, OST, BUREAU OF PRODUCT SAFETY, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, BICYCLE INSTITUTE OF AMERICA, UMTA AND FRA. 4-24-73 COMMITTEE MET AND DISCUSSED FOLLOWING POINTS: IN 1972, 13.8 MILLION BICYCLES SOLD -- MORE THAN ALL AUTOMOBILES SOLD. 40-50% WERE FOR ADULT USE IN RECREATION AND COMMUTING. UPSURGE IN ADULT USE PUTS A WHOLE NEW LOOK ON SAFETY PROBLEMS. ANNUAL FATALITIES INCREASED FROM 850 IN 1971 TO AROUND 1100 IN 1972. THESE ARE VIRTUALLY ALL AUTOMOBILE INVOLVED ACCIDENTS. BUREAU OF PRODUCT SAFETY WILL IN THE NEAR FUTURE, PROMULGATE STANDARDS FOR BICYCLE DESIGN SAFETY. RAISED THE QUESTION "WHAT IS AN ADULT BICYCLE?" BICYCLE SAFETY EDUCATION IS RECEIVING ADDED EMPHASES IN SCHOOLS. THERE IS A NEED TO REEXAMINE FUTURE TRAFFIC AND TRAFFIC REGULATIONS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF BICYCLE SAFETY. PRESENT STREETS, TRAFFIC CONTROLS & SIGNS AND REGULATIONS ARE AUTOMOBILE ORIENTED. NHTSA HAS A CONTRACT WITH FHWA NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES TO DO THIS STUDY. THIS WILL ALSO INCLUDE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. 8-23-74 FHWA LETTER REPORTS THAT FHWA HAS A STUDY UNDERWAY ENTITLED: "SAFETY AND LOCATIONAL CRITERIA FOR BICYCLE FACILITIES." OTHER RESEARCH ON BICYCLE SAFETY FALLS UNDER SEVERAL STUDIES NOW BEING CONDUCTED ON PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. SEE RESPONSE TO H-71-54. 1-17-75 THE NHTSA REPORTS THAT IT HAS ACCELERATED ITS PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE ANPRM, FOR A PROPOSED BICYCLIST SAFETY STANDARD; A PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLIST SAFETY ADVISORY CONFERENCE AND PREPARATION OF THE SECTION 214 STUDY ON PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE SAFETY AS REQUIRED IN HIGHWAY SAFETY ACT OF 1973.