With the crisp fall weather settling in, more and more Americans will be taking advantage of the cooler temperatures and scenic foliage by heading out for a bike ride. However, like any mode of transport, cycling comes with risks. A new ranking has identified the states where bicyclists are most likely to be involved in a traffic collision, with Florida placing first.
The research comes from bicycle law experts at Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group, who analyzed 2022 traffic incident data from the NHTSA. The states were then ranked according to the percentage of traffic incidents that involved a bicyclist.
Nationally, 1,081 of a total 39,193 traffic incidents involved a bicyclist in 2022, equating to 2.76%. However, some states saw a higher incident rate than others.
Florida sees the highest proportion of traffic incidents involving a bicyclist at 6.55%. This is 137% higher than the national average (2.76% of incidents involving a bicyclist). Of 3,298 collisions reported in the state, 216 involved a cyclist.
Florida has some of the busiest roads in the U.S., meaning many tourist drivers are unfamiliar with local traffic patterns. This can leave cyclists vulnerable to collisions.
Hawaii is the second most dangerous state for cyclists, with 6.31% of the state’s incidents involving a bicyclist (accounting for seven out of 111 total collisions). This is 127% above the national average (2.76% of collisions involving a bicyclist).
Third is Louisiana. Of the state’s 852 collisions reported in 2022, 45 involved a bicyclist, equating to 5.28%. This is 91% higher than the national average.
The fourth state where cyclists are most at risk is Utah, with 4.73% of incidents involving a bicyclist. Of the 296 collisions reported in the state, 14 involved a bicyclist. This is nearly three-quarters (71%) above the national average of 2.76%.
New York rounds out the five most dangerous states, with 4.62% of collisions involving a bicyclist. The state reports 67% more incidents than the national average, with 51 of a total 1,105 collisions involving a bicyclist.
Also among the ten worst states are California, with 4.23% of collisions involving a bicyclist, Delaware, with cyclists involved in 4.20% of incidents, and Nevada, with 3.66% of incidents affecting someone on a bicycle.
The ten states with the most traffic collisions involving bicyclists
| State | Total Number of Collisions | Number of Collisions Involving Bicyclists | Percentage of Collisions Involving Bicyclists |
1 | Florida | 3,298 | 216 | 6.55% |
2 | Hawaii | 111 | 7 | 6.31% |
3 | Louisiana | 852 | 45 | 5.28% |
4 | Utah | 296 | 14 | 4.73% |
5 | New York | 1,105 | 51 | 4.62% |
6 | California | 4,109 | 174 | 4.23% |
7 | Delaware | 143 | 6 | 4.20% |
8 | Arizona | 1,183 | 49 | 4.14% |
9 | Nevada | 383 | 14 | 3.66% |
10 | Michigan | 1,054 | 35 | 3.32% |
While some states see a higher rate of bicyclists involved in collisions, others provide a significantly safer experience on the roads.
The states with the lowest percentage of collisions involving bicyclists are Rhode Island and Nebraska, with zero incidents. Of the 51 total collisions reported in RI, none involved bicyclists, and the same of the 214 collisions reported in NE.
Compared to Florida, Rhode Island has a much lower traffic volume, lower speed limits, and cities like Providence have invested in bike-friendly infrastructure.
The second safest state for bicyclists is Ohio, with just 0.68% of all collisions involving a cyclist. Of the state’s 1,180 incidents, just eight involved a bicyclist. This is 75% lower than the national average (2.76% of collisions involving a bicyclist).
Third is West Virginia. Of the 248 total traffic collisions reported in the state, two involved a bicyclist, equating to 0.81% of incidents.
Wyoming is fourth, with one of the state’s 118 collisions involving a bicyclist. This equates to 0.85%, which is 69% below the national average (2.76% of collisions).
Rounding out the five safest states for bicyclists is Connecticut, with 0.92% of collisions involving a bicyclist. Of the 325 incidents reported in the state, three involved a cyclist.
The ten states with the fewest traffic collisions involving bicyclists
| State | Total Number of Collisions | Number of Collisions Involving Bicyclists | Percentage of Collisions Involving Bicyclists |
1= | Rhode Island | 51 | 0 | 0.00% |
1= | Nebraska | 214 | 0 | 0.00% |
2 | Ohio | 1,180 | 8 | 0.68% |
3 | West Virginia | 248 | 2 | 0.81% |
4 | Wyoming | 118 | 1 | 0.85% |
5 | Connecticut | 325 | 3 | 0.92% |
6 | New Mexico | 419 | 4 | 0.95% |
7 | Arkansas | 583 | 6 | 1.03% |
8 | North Dakota | 96 | 1 | 1.04% |
9 | Montana | 184 | 2 | 1.09% |
10 | Missouri | 962 | 11 | 1.14% |
Overall, 11 of the 50 states reported a higher incident rate for bicyclists than the national average (2.76% of incidents involving a cyclist).
Speaking on the findings, Robert Goldwater, Lawyer at Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group, said:
“In fall, weather changes can make the roads more hazardous for cyclists due to falling leaves, poor visibility, and slick surfaces due to increased rainfall. In states like Florida, where the number of cyclists involved in collisions is highest, increased awareness of these seasonal risks can help promote better infrastructure planning and safer road-sharing behaviors.
“It’s crucial that both drivers and cyclists take action to prevent collisions at this time of year. This includes drivers maintaining at least three feet of distance when passing a cyclist, checking their blind spots, and yielding at intersections. For cyclists, it’s key to ride with traffic, not against it, and to use hand signals before turning or stopping to help drivers anticipate movements.”
Post courtesy https://
Source: NHTSA (https://www.nhtsa.gov/file-
Methodology: Data on traffic incidents in 2022 was sourced from the NHSTA. The data was then analyzed to rank states by the percentage of incidents that included a bicyclist.
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