Cycling fatalities rocket in New Jersey

2008 has seen the highest number of bicyclist fatalities in the state in at least six years. Director Pam Fischer announced yesterday that 21 cyclists were killed through December 17 of this year - up from 11 fatalities each in 2006 and 2007. Officials from Highway Traffic Safety said that most of the victims were adults, and that most of the crashes occurred in the state’s urbanized areas. Those officials speculated that the slow economy and fluctuating gas prices have encouraged increasing numbers of New Jerseyans to bicycle for local errands and to commute to work.

Highway Traffic Safety has planned new programs to educate adults about safe bicycling and to increase helmet use.

That’s right – blame the victims. The ideology of ‘road safety’ is all about cyclists and pedestrians accommodating their behaviour to take account of reckless driving.