Statistics for cyclists injured by ‘car door incidents’ have just been released for the last few years. I’m fairly sure that this information has been available previously but this is a nice summary in response to a Parliamentary Question.
Between 2009 and 2011 1587 incidents have been recorded resulting in injury, 2 resulted in death.
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on (a) the number of pedal cyclist casualties attributable to the opening of a vehicle door in (i) 2009, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2011 and (b) the severity of the injuries received in each case. [145360]
Stephen Hammond: The numbers of pedal cyclists injured, by severity, in reported personal injury road accidents in Great Britain, as a result of hitting an open door of a vehicle, or as a result of a vehicle door being opened or closed negligently (e.g. injured due to evasive action), for the last three years are:
Casualties
Severity 2009 2010 2011
Killed 0 1 1
Serious 55 77 92
Slight 413 449 501
So… don’t ride in the door zone! Heed the advice from Silly Cyclists and watch the video below.