Press release No. N 043 of 12 July 2022
- Proportion of people aged 65+ down to 34% in 2021 from 55% in 2014
- Pedelec accidents more often fatal than accidents involving non-motorised pedal cycles
- E-scooters are an urban phenomenon and alcohol is often the cause of accidents
WIESBADEN – An increasing number of younger people enjoy riding electrically-assisted pedal cycles – this is shown also by the accident figures. In 2014, more than half (54.5%) of the riders of such pedelecs (or e-bikes, as they are often referred to colloquially) who were killed or injured were at least 65 years old, whereas only one third (33.5%) of the casualties was in that age group in 2021. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) reports that the proportion of younger people who were killed or injured in pedelec accidents rose accordingly. In 2014, one in nine, or 10.7%, of the casualties of pedelec accidents were under 45 years, while in 2021 it was more than one in four (27.8%). For comparison: One in six riders of non-motorised pedal cycles was 65 years or over when killed or injured in an accident. More than half (55.5%) of the casualties were under 45 years.
