The SWOV (Stichting Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Verkeersveiligheid: the Dutch Institute for Research into Safety in Traffic) is concentrating on cycling accidents where cyclists aged 50 and above have fallen from the bicycle or have collided with an obstacle, a pedestrian, another cyclist, or a moped or motorbike. When such accidents occur, they are reported to the SWOV by the police or ambulance services. A research team then contacts the persons involved in the accident, inspects incurred damage on the vehicles as well as the location.
The research team consists of psychologists, engineers, and vehicle specialists. In order to better understand the circumstances leading to the accident, the psychologists consult the drivers of the vehicles involved in the accident. They will also have a good look at the vehicles themselves. Photos of the accident location are taken as soon as possible after the accident, videos are made of the routes followed by the vehicles, and characteristics of the road and surroundings are noted. The team will also ask those involved for permission to request access to their hospital records.
The team will describe the process leading to each accident: how did it come about and which factors played a role. This should generate knowledge by which similar accidents can be prevented in the future.