Scooter riders protect themselves insufficiently
Most scooter riders do not protect themselves sufficiently. This is shown by a new survey conducted by the bfu. Not even one in four of them wears a motorcycle jacket made of leather or abrasion-resistant material. Only a minority of scooter riders also wear protective gloves. Other figures from the annual bfu survey are more encouraging.
Scooter riders wear remarkably little protective gear when compared to motorcycle riders: according to the 2018 bfu survey, only 42 % of scooter riders ride with gloves - compared to 92 % for the Motorcycle riders. The difference is even more striking when it comes to protective jackets: While 89 % of motorcycle riders protect themselves with a jacket made of leather or abrasion-resistant material, 23 % of scooter riders do. Almost all of them wear a helmet.
The risk of becoming involved in a Accident serious injury is not to be underestimated for scooter riders. "In the event of a fall, the consequences are the same for scooter and motorcycle riders. In both cases, there is the threat of direct contact of the body with the road. The risk of injury is high because the vehicle offers no protection whatsoever," explains bfu motorcycle expert Christoph Jöhr.
Bike helmet: differences depending on the destination
For the first time since the start of the annual bfu surveys in 1998, the fifty percent mark has been reached for bicycle helmets: Every second cyclist now wears a helmet. However, there are major differences depending on the purpose of the ride. For example, the helmet-wearing rate for leisure rides is 55 %, on the way to school 43 %, on the way to work 37 % and on the way to the shops only 22 %. On fast E-bikes (with pedal assistance above 25 and up to 45 km/h), the bicycle helmet is mandatory, but only 87 % of users comply. On slower e-bikes, the helmet wearing rate is 67 %.
Seat belt and "light in daytime": good ratings
There are high rates of wearing seat belts and turning on vehicle lights during the day. Wearing the seat belt 95 % of the Motorist and 94 % of their passengers. The values vary depending on the type of road: 98 % of drivers wear seat belts on highways, 95 % in built-up areas and 94 % in urban areas.
"Light during the day" has been mandatory for all motor vehicles in Switzerland since 2014. The latest bfu survey shows that 97 % of road users comply with this. According to the Federal Roads Office FEDRO, this measure, which was introduced as part of the "Via sicura" campaign, prevented 110 serious accident injuries in both 2014 and 2015.
Text: bfu - Advisory Council for Accident Prevention
