5. V ulnerable Road Users and Heavy Goods Vehicles Accidents involving pedestrians, cyclists and drivers of powered two wheelers (PTWs) are being increasingly discussed due to their severity. The VRUs are unprotected, and their small mass is unfavourable in a collision. Furthermore, they are harder to detect than other road users, and consequently suffer a higher risk of getting injured. VRU Statistics Statistics show that severe injuries and fatalities for vulnerable road users are decreasing at a slower rate than for protected vehicle occupants. The decrease in VRU injuries has stagnated over the past few years (26). According to a report by the European Commission, the total road fatality rate between the years 2010–2013 decreased by 18 %. The same number for pedestrians is 11 %, and for cyclists only 3 % (27). The decrease in VRU injuries has stagnated over the past few years. Fatalities in accidents involving HGVs in Europe 2014 (n=3,863) A 13 % B 49 % C 32 % Pedestrians 7 % Cyclists 8 % PTW 17 % Figure 15: Distribution of VRU-fatalities in HGV-related accidents (15) Approximately 10% of the VRU injuries and fatalities in traffic involve HGVs. Despite the relatively small share, a large proportion of accidents between VRUs and HGVs produce severe consequences. The distribution of accidents between HGVs and different VRUs varies significantly between European countries. Key factors are the extent to which people travel by cycle or on foot and how the infrastructure is built up. For example, the Netherlands and Denmark are known for their widespread cycling, while in Greece and large parts of southern Europe it is common to use scooters. Safer VRUs Accidents involving VRUs are very complex since VRUs are somewhat unpredictable. They can move in ways that leave little room for a vehicle driver to react. Hence, accidents happen even when the driver is focusing fully on the traffic. One growing problem in traffic is distraction due to the use of smartphones. It is common to see pedestrians – and even cyclists – moving around listening to music, texting or playing games, with limited awareness of their surroundings. Studies show that almost one fifth (17 %) of all pedestrians crossing a road fail to pay attention to the traffic because they are using their smartphone (28). VRUs using smartphones is a growing traffic safety problem 25
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