Cycling and jogging are the most popular outdoor activities in Latvia. However, only slightly more than half of them use means to be noticeable on the road and reduce the likelihood of being involved in a road accident. Active citizens have been shown to take greater care of children by providing them with reflective vests and reflectors, while not paying as much attention to their safety.
The survey shows that 68% of active people in Latvia are engaged in cycling and 37% in jogging. Hiking (33%), dog walking (15%) and Nordic walking (5%) are also popular activities. The main reasons for these activities are people maintaining themselves in good shape, improving their health, and the bicycle is also used as a way of movement.
More than half (52%) of active people engage in outdoor activities throughout the year, regardless of the weather, while 39% opt for the warm and dry months of the year. Most, or 63%, of those surveyed, do these activities in the evening after work, and almost a third in the morning.
Less than one third, or 31%, use high visibility reflective vests with reflective tapes to enhance their safety. The most popular means are the use of luminaires (53%), the use of reflectors and other reflective accessories (46%), but 4% of the respondents rely on the reflective materials in their clothing.
Statistics from the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) for 2018 report that 625 cyclists and 867 pedestrians were injured in road accidents in Latvia last year. By contrast, the number of fatal cyclists in 2018 was 9 and the number of pedestrians was 51. Lack of visibility is mentioned as one of the main causes of accidents, resulting in drivers noticing the cyclist or pedestrian too late.