More deaths caused by e-bike offenses
The number of e-bike riders who died in traffic accidents last year dropped, but the number who died in accidents when they broke the traffic law rose, Shanghai traffic police said on Monday.
Fatalities of e-bikers fell by 7.7 percent and injuries by 27.6 percent from 2017. But those killed while making illegal maneuvers such as running red lights were up by 10.2 percent. Worse yet, the number of deaths of other people involved in such circumstances was up 23.8 percent.
The Hongkou accident
In one such case from February this year, a woman was killed by a bus at the intersection of Huoshan and Dalian roads in Hongkou District when running a red light.
Sun Ning, head of the accident investigation squad of Hongkou District traffic police, said the woman was riding at 26kph, well over the limit of 15kph, while the bus was well under the speed limit.
“The bus driver said he was only 2 or 3 meters from the woman when he spotted her, and he could do nothing to prevent the collision,” he said.
In another such case from January this year, a woman was killed by a heavy truck at the intersection of Xinzhuan and Changshi highways in suburban Songjiang District, also riding her e-bike through a red light. Surveillance footage shows her trying to brake when she was about 2 meters away from the truck, but inertia got the better of her and she was hurled to under the wheel of the truck.
Chen Guorong, head of the accident investigation squad of Songjiang District traffic police, said the woman was riding in excess of 24kph, and there was no indication that she had not seen the red light ahead.
“There were cars stopped at the red light at the time,” he said. “She was probably just taking a chance because the street is usually not very busy.”
The Songjiang accident
In such cases, the compensation from the insurance of the motorist involved is only about 10,000 yuan (US$1,500).
Wang Yi, head of the police accident prevention department, said that there is still a mistaken belief among people that drivers involved in such accidents are always held responsible.
“If the motorist was not breaking the law at the time of an accident, he or she is not held responsible,” he said. “However, if it is shown that the motorist could have spotted the e-bike rider or pedestrian and taken action to prevent an accident, he or she will be assigned responsibility even if the e-bike rider or pedestrian was breaking the law.”
Regarding the demography of e-bike riders killed in all traffic accidents, Wang said the largest groups are people above 50 years old and female migrant workers.
Ding Bin, head of the public relations department of Shanghai traffic police, said police will continue to crack down on traffic offenses from e-bike riders and pedestrians.
Along with weekly campaigns, traffic cameras have more new functions to catch offending e-bike riders and pedestrians. The trial of e-bike plates with radio frequency identification will be expanded, while those who fail to pay fine will see their credit ratings reduced, Ding said.
Food and parcel delivery businesses, which employ a great number of e-bike riders, will face investigation if their employees die in accidents.
“The person held responsible could be the CEO of the business,” Ding said.
