More commuter accidents due to increasing use of soft mobility

The number of accidents to and from work is increasing as more and more people travel to work by (electric) bike or on foot. That’s according to figures from insurer Ethias, based on an analysis of more than 7,500 recent claim files.

Such accidents also impact the workplace, as 41% of absenteeism is due to such workplace accidents.

Almost half of the accidents are linked to cycling

While in 2021 an average of 21% or 5,346 of workplace accidents occurred during commuting, in 2024 that share has risen to 23% or 7,500 claims. Accidents on the work road most often happen with cars with internal combustion engines, bicycles (in Belgium, one in five workers cycles to work), and pedestrians, according to the insurer.

Of those 7,500 commuting accidents in 2024, about 43% were linked to cycling, electric or otherwise. The impact of soft mobility, which is also on the rise through the so-called cafeteria plan that allows employees to convert a portion of their pay to another benefit, such as a company bike, is therefore a growing risk factor, says the insurer.

Relatively many accidents involving injuries to the lower limbs

Indeed, a good 41% of absenteeism at work is due to such accidents,, representing 26% of the total absenteeism for which Ethias intervenes. The average duration of incapacity for work is also 17% higher than for workplace accidents.

Accidents involving injuries to the lower limbs account for about 29% of total absenteeism. Those injuries are most common in accidents involving soft mobility and travel on foot. In turn, accidents with upper limb injuries account for 22% of absenteeism, and they are most frequently seen in accidents involving mobility devices or walking.

Accidents involving injuries to the neck, back, or spine account for 6% of absenteeism and occur in 70% of cases involving a car. Finally, injuries to the head are less frequent (6% of accidents) and represent 4% of absenteeism, but 47% of cases involve soft mobility accidents, which also illustrates the importance of wearing a helmet for cyclists.

Regional differences

Furthermore, the figures also show that 53% of accidents on work roads occurred in Flanders, where the bicycle network is more densely developed. The number of accidents involving (electric) bicycles was six times higher there than in Wallonia.

About 30% of the accidents occurred in Wallonia and 17% in the Brussels Capital Region. In Wallonia and Brussels, trips on foot mainly lead to accidents on the way to and from work.

Commute safely

Due to the increase in accidents on the road to work, Ethias wants to “sensitize employers to the risk of commuting and encourage employees to travel safely.” The company does this by offering training courses, awareness campaigns, practical tools, and mobility diagnostics.

The latest annual report by mobility federation Traxio also points out that more and more cyclists are indeed moving with higher speeds thanks to the rise of the e-bike and the speed pedelec, but at the same time, it also points out that in many places, the infrastructure is not yet equipped for it.

On April 30, as part of their renewed Bike2Work program, the Fietsbond/Cycling Federation is organizing a study day on “Cycling to Work” in Antwerp. The program’s items include how to ensure that employees commute safely and how to obtain the Cycle Friendly Employer label, the European label for bicycle-friendly companies and organizations, and what to do with it.