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    Latest Tragic Motorcyclist Deaths in the US

    Vaseline Posted on

    The deaths of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew highlight how many hundreds of American cyclists are killed by vehicles each year.

    Hockey fans were shocked by the deaths of Columbus Blue Jackets star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew, who were killed when a suspected drunk driver struck and killed the siblings while they were riding bicycles.

    For cyclists, this is yet another example of an incident that has become all too well known.

    The latest federal statistics show that the Gaudreau brothers’ deaths are not an exception: the number of cyclists killed in traffic accidents in 2022 reached the highest level in years.

    The deaths have mobilized bicycle safety advocates across the country, including the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, which spoke out about the safety of bike lanes in the city after Barbara Friedes, 30, was struck and killed in July while cycling.

    Read more: Johnny Gaudreau killed in NJ crash involving suspected drunk driver

    Year after year, more and more cyclists die in traffic accidents

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 1,105 bicyclists were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2022. While 2022 was the first year that motorized bicycles were included in the count, the figure surpasses the number of deaths in previous years, including 2021 (976), 2020 (948), 2019 (859) and 2018 (871).

    According to the NHTSA, the number of cyclists killed in traffic accidents has actually been “steadily increasing since 2010.”

    In 2022, the majority (59%) of fatal crashes involving cyclists occurred at locations that were not intersections and involved collisions with light trucks, including SUVs, pickup trucks and vans, according to the NHTSA. The average age of cyclists killed in 2021 was 49.

    Cyclist deaths in 2022 occurred more often in urban areas than in rural areas, with urban deaths accounting for 83% of cyclist deaths, the federal agency said. The percentage of cyclist deaths in urban areas increased from 69% in 2011 to 83% in 2022.

    According to the NHTSA, bicyclist deaths were highest in Florida (222), followed by California (177) and Texas (91). No bicyclist deaths were reported in Nebraska or Rhode Island.

    How did the Gaudreau brothers die?

    The Gaudreau brothers were killed Thursday night while riding their bicycles in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, near their home in Salem County, New Jersey State Police said.

    Sean Higgins, a suspected drunk driver, was charged with two counts of manslaughter after he crashed his Jeep Grand Cherokee into the brothers on a country road, the department said.

    Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, died after being fatally injured, police said.

    “The Columbus Blue Jackets are shocked and devastated by this unimaginable tragedy. Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but most importantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend,” the NHL team said in a statement. “We extend our sincere condolences to his wife, Meredith, his children, Noa and Johnny, his parents, their families and friends on the sudden loss of Johnny and Matthew.”

    What can be done to prevent fatal accidents involving cyclists?

    The League of American Bicyclists, a nonprofit organization that promotes cycling, made suggestions to improve safety and prevent deaths, including:

    • Producing safer cars equipped with automatic emergency braking systems that can detect cyclists and then prevent a potentially fatal accident.
    • Promoting and implementing protected cycling infrastructure to create safer roads.
    • Embrace lower speed limits for urban and residential areas.

    The NHTSA appears to agree with the nonprofit, especially when it comes to building more bicycle-friendly infrastructure.

    “A focus on systematic infrastructure improvements combined with safe road user behavior is important to increase population-level safety (as measured by a reduction in fatalities and injuries across the population) and people on bicycles or bicycle mode participation,” the federal government agency said. “Safety improvements with increased bicycling will reduce individual risk.”

    Contributors: Brian Hedger and Cole Behrens, Columbus Dispatch; Jay Cannon, USA TODAY

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