Drunk cyclist destroys three cars in Ingolstadt!

Drunk cyclist destroys three cars in Ingolstadt!

An avoidable incident occurred on June 13, 2025 in Ingolstadt, which once again shows the dangers of cycling under the influence of alcohol. A 38-year-old cyclist had a blood alcohol level of 2.1 per mille when he fell, making him a danger to himself and others. He initially crashed into three parked cars, suffering minor injuries, before hitting a construction site sign, causing his bicycle chain to break. The total property damage amounts to around 3,000 euros, which makes it clear that in addition to personal injuries, the material damage should not be underestimated, as pfaffenhofen-today.de reports.

The events began around 3:40 p.m. on the cycle path on Richard-Wagner-Straße. The cyclist initially lost control at house number 1 and collided with a parked car. His continued efforts to continue driving despite the first fall led to further collisions with two other vehicles. The last accident occurred at house number 3 when he overlooked a construction site sign and fell violently. Fortunately, he was found by the traffic police and taken to a hospital, which can be seen as a blessing in disguise given his drunken state and injuries.

The risks of cycling

Cycling is considered an environmentally friendly and healthy form of mobility, but it also poses risks that cannot be ignored. According to an analysis by the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt), the risk of accidents for cyclists is still high. What is particularly striking is that alcohol-related accidents are showing a worrying increase. Dealing with drunk driving or cycling should not be taken lightly. Younger cyclists are also more likely to be distracted, which further increases the risk of accidents. A survey has shown that over 50% of cyclists consider distractions such as talking on the phone or listening to music to be dangerous, but the number of unreported bicycle accidents is estimated at up to 70%, as bast.de shows.

In 2022, 2,788 traffic deaths were registered in Germany, a significant proportion of which were cyclists and pedestrians. Richard Goebelt, head of department at the TÜV Association, pointed out that the proportion of cyclists in traffic fatalities has risen to 17% within two years. In particular, the 19% increase in alcohol-related accidents compared to the previous year shows that there is a need for action. Older people and drunk cyclists have a particularly high risk of being involved in a serious accident because they are more likely to suffer more serious injuries, as tuev-verband.de reports.

A call for safety

It is high time to call on those responsible to take action - both in terms of education about alcohol consumption and to improve cycling infrastructure. Theoretical courses and practical bicycle training could increase safety for cyclists. In addition, increased monitoring and sanctions for misconduct would be a sensible step in order to avoid serious accidents in the future.

Finally, it is to be hoped that the sad events in Ingolstadt will serve as a reminder and that both cyclists and other road users will be made aware of the dangers of road traffic. At a time when cycling is being promoted, especially in cities, thanks to new mobility concepts, safety must always come first.