As someone who works in bicycle administration (with a local authority in
the States), I deal with shortcomings in crash statistics all the time.
Not only are there biases built-in to reporting forms and procedures
(for example, there is a threshold of $1500 in property damage, OR
physical injury before the police will begin a formal report), there is
absolutely no way to record or quantify close calls, near misses,
failures to yield right of way – behaviors (mostly on the part of
drivers) that create hostile unwelcoming conditions on the street.
Does anyone have a way of detecting / measuring / comparing such
behaviors?
Many thanks,
David Patton
Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner
Arlington County DES / DOT
2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22201
Office: 703-228-3633
Mobile: 202-460-9470
Fax: 703-228-7548
|