Traffic deaths peak, sharp rise among elderly male cyclists

The number of people killed on Dutch roads last year rose 12% to 759, according to figures from national statistics agency CBS. The figure was the highest since 2007.

Fewer women died in traffic accidents but the  number of men dying on the roads rose by 21% to 575, the CBS said.

“The increase in traffic-related deaths is largely down to more cyclists being killed,” CBS sociologist Tanja Traag told broadcaster NOS. Last year 281 cyclists died in traffic, a rise of 35 on 2024.

This is because more people are cycling, especially the elderly, and there was a notable increase in deaths among male cyclists over the age of 70, Traag said.

At least 41% of cyclists who died were riding an electric bicycle, eight of whom were on fat bikes. In 63% of cases involving cyclist fatalities, a head injury was the main cause of death, the CBS said.

The government is under pressure to make helmets compulsory for teenagers using electric bikes and has been encouraging older cyclists to use them too.

In addition, 59 pedestrians, 54 people on mobility scooters, 53 motorcyclists and 38 moped users died in road traffic accidents.

Traffic safety lobby group Verkeersveiligheidscoalitie which includes motoring organisations, traffic safety organisations, and insurers, said “sharply formulated goals and an appropriate budget” were needed to bring down the number of deaths.

Improvement in the cycling infrastructure will protect cyclists, the coalition said, while better policing through speed monitoring and the reintroduction of the ignition interlock device to prevent drunk driving will also help bring down deaths.

More money is also needed to fund independent research into traffic safety measures and their effectiveness, the organisation said.