What is the economic cost of crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians?
The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that the comprehensive cost of each person killed in a traffic crash to be $3,840,000 (2005 dollars) (see table below). Multiplying this number by the 784 bicyclists killed in 2005 totals more than $3 billion. Multiplying this number by the 4,881 pedestrians killed in 2005 totals more than $18.7 billion. The NSC also estimates the average economic nonfatal injury cost per person involved in a motor vehicle crash to be $52,900 (2005 dollars). Multiplying this number by the 45,000 reported injury bike crashes in 2005 totals nearly $2.4 billion. Multiplying this number by the 64,000 reported pedestrian crashes in 2005 totals nearly $3.4 billion.
| Category | Cost per Event | 2005 Events | Total 2005 Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bicycle Fatalities | $3,840,000 | 784 | $3,010,560,000 |
| Bicycle Injuries | $52,900 | 45,000 | $2,380,500,000 |
| Pedestrian Fatalities | $3,840,000 | 4,881 | $18,743,040,000 |
| Pedestrian Injuries | $52,900 | 64,000 | $3,385,600,000 |
Based on these estimates, the total cost of bicycle and pedestrian injuries and fatalities for 2005 was $27,519,700,000.
According to the NSC, calculation of the economic cost of injuries includes "wage and productivity losses, medical expenses, administrative expenses, motor vehicle damage, and employers' uninsured costs." Calculation of the comprehensive cost of fatalities includes the economic cost plus "a measure of the value of lost quality of life which was obtained through empirical studies of what people actually pay to reduce their safety and health risks."
