More cyclist deaths: Road safety organisation calls for more e-bike training and helmet wearing rates

Last year, the Federal Statistical Office recorded a 3.8 per cent increase in fatal cycling accidents to 462 fatalities. While the overall number of road deaths is falling, cycling is developing in the opposite direction. The number of cyclists killed has risen by over 20 per cent since 2015. The growing sales of e-bikes are reflected in the accident statistics: almost half of fatal cycling accidents in 2025 involved pedelecs.

Kirsten Lühmann, President of the German Road Safety Association, emphasises the need for education and training opportunities. She believes that safe cycling networks alone are not enough. Rider safety with pedelecs must be improved through targeted mobility training. The rate at which adults wear helmets is too low to prevent serious accidents.

Older e-bike riders particularly at risk

Two thirds of e-bike riders killed were aged 65 or over. The electric pedal assistance gets many older people back on their bikes, but at the same time there are problems with handling. The proportion of single-vehicle accidents with personal injury is 31.1 per cent. Physical resilience decreases with age and the consequences of accidents are more severe.

Lühmann calls for proper instruction when buying a pedelec and extensive test rides to practise safe handling. The rate of helmet wear decreases significantly with increasing age. Awareness campaigns should increase the rate, as falls among senior citizens usually result in more serious head injuries.

Training offered by the traffic organisation

Verkehrswacht provides various moderation programmes for cyclists. The counselling and training programmes are aimed equally at children and older people. The DVW is in favour of expanding cycling education. Compulsory cycling training for secondary school children should follow on from cycle training.