Bicycle Fatalities Victoria 2008-9

There were 5 bicycle fatalities during 2009.

Date	Location	Type
11 April	Country	same direction
Full-screen 21 April	Melbourne outskirts	major highway
20 August	Country	same direction - bus
Full-scree20 October	Country	major highway - truck
Full-screen21 December	Country	same direction

Source: Victoria Police, via http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=au&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100333373865308010614.00045f71a0df0367031d9

Commentary: 3 out of 5 were same-direction, the other two are unstated as to direction.

None in metropolitan areas (reflecting speed of vehicles, perhaps?). 

9 fatalities in 2008

In contrast with 2009, most of the nine fatalities were inside metropolitan areas.  Once again the majority were "same direction" collisions.

Date	Location	Type
14 April	Melbourne outer	same direction - stopped alongside semi
Full-screen 04 August	Melbourne outer	same direction
13 September	Melbourne outer	same direction
18 September	Melbourne CBD	same direction - tourist bus
21 September	Melbourne inner	no motor vehicle - fell off
19 October	Melbourne outer	no motor vehicle - fell off
09 November	Melbourne inner	intersection collision (not traffic light controlled)
27 November	Country	semi trailer (unknown direction)
24 December	Melbourne middle	same direction (Beach rd)

This is only two years' data, not enough to draw conclusions.  All the same, I was surprised to see how many were "same direction".  More bike lanes would help? Running red lights does not appear to be a factor (going through red lights is often safer than waiting).  Note that more information would be obtained by looking at injuries, as there are more of them, hence more data to draw conclusions from. 

Anyone know where to find good analysis of Melbourne bicycle crash data?  Respond here.