中国第二届全国交通安全日

There are about 160 million electric bicycles in China.

The numbers are increasing at a rate of 15 percent a year.

The growing number of electric bicycles on the road has also increased the fatality rate.

Last year alone, more than 5-thousand people were killed riding an electric bicycle.

Li Rong, director of the World Health Organization's road safety project in China, says the high accident rate is due partly because riders don't know how to ride the electric bicycles properly.

"Some of the electric bike riders don't obey traffic rules. Speeding, carrying passengers, going in wrong directions, running red lights, and making phone calls while riding are five dangerous behaviors, among which speeding is the most common in China. Many of the electric bike riders are not familiar with traffic rules and they don't wear helmets while driving. "

National regulations are supposed to cap the speed limit for electric bicycles at 20 kilometers per hour.

However, high-power bicycles can reach 40 or even 60 kilometers per hour.

Brant Powis, advisor to the WHO road safety project, says in most developed countries, electric bicycles are more of a recreational tool.

Here in China, electric bicycles are mainly considered an environmentally-friendly transportation tool.

"In Europe, the primary focus is on what may see behind this. I guess it's in a smaller version: light-weight, particularly using light-weight batteries and having a very low potential speed. And it's used often for recreational purposes. It's used in many big cities for the particularly aged. This is a big advantage for an aging population throughout the world. In many cities, bicycles are used by older people."

Proponents of electric bicycles contend they reduce air and noise pollution, as well as increase city traffic efficiency.
But Li Rong says more regulations are still needed to ensure people's safety.

"Regarding laws and regulations, we should specify production standards of electric bikes and conduct safety checks on them. As to individuals, electric bike riders should familiarize themselves with the traffic rules and regulations. And they should also wear helmets while driving."

For CRI, this is Li Jing.