Alaska Fatal Bicycle Accident Statistics
There were no reported bicycle fatalities for 2015 in Alaska. This information is according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This number is down from the three reported in 2014 and the one reported in both 2012 and 2013.
Alaska goes against the current trend in bicycle fatal deaths, which rose nationwide for 2015 with a 13 percent increase over the numbers reported in 2014. It was the highest number of fatal bicycle deaths since 1995. Overall, the number of fatalities for bicycle accidents has gone down since 1975 with an 88 percent decrease for victims age 20 and younger. On the other hand, deaths among those age 20 and older have tripled since 1975.
Most bicycle fatalities occur between 6 and 9PM with over half occurring between 3 and 9PM. Two-thirds of fatalities involving bicyclists occur in non-intersections with over half happening on major roads that are not interstates. The majority of deaths happen during warmer months, including June, July, August and September when there is an increased use of bicycles.
Alaska does not have a helmet law for any bicyclists. However, cities may have local ordinances governing the use of helmets with bicycles. Statistics show that more people wear helmets when a state law is in place even if it does not directly apply to them. However, less than 17 percent of those who were fatally injured in a bicycle accident were wearing helmets at the time of the accident. Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by half and the risk of injury to the face and neck by 33 percent.
Overall, two percent of accidents involving motor vehicles also involves bicycles. The majority of these accidents cause injury to the head, which is the reason many of them are fatal.