Number of traffic deaths increased by a quarter, especially older cyclists

The number of traffic fatalities rose by more than a quarter last year. Older cyclists in particular caused many fatal accidents.

There were 737 traffic fatalities in 2022, 155 more than in 2021, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). This makes the number of road deaths the highest since 2008.

More road deaths, especially among cyclists

The number of traffic fatalities is also well above the preliminary figures mentioned above. Even then it was clear which vehicle had the most fatalities.

Of the total number of road deaths, 291 people were cycling. And that’s a lot. In fact, according to Statistics Netherlands, the highest number since registration began in 1996. The number of fatal accidents increased most among the over-75s. And above all by bike: 150 in 2022 compared to 94 in the previous year.

Almost half of road fatalities among cyclists were the result of a collision with a car or van. A quarter died without colliding with another vehicle. For example, they fell because of an indisposition, a wrong steering movement, a bad road surface, slippery roads or a foot between the spokes.

Brabant most dangerous

With 140 fatalities, North Brabant is the most dangerous. That is almost fifty more than in 2021. South Holland, Gelderland and North Holland follow, all three of which have also recorded growth. In the province of Utrecht, the number of road deaths has fallen. In Drenthe, Overijssel and Zeeland, the number has doubled compared to 2021.

As in previous years, more men (522) than women (215) died in road traffic. At the beginning of this century, the number of traffic deaths was over a thousand each year. After that, the number gradually decreased to 570 in 2013 and 2014.