The unequal size between lorries and cyclists by accidents often have a tragic outcome and affect both witnesses and relatives tremendously. In the media as well as in the public debate there is sometimes an increased focus on these types of accidents. This was also the case in 2013 partly because twice as many fatal accidents between lorries turning right and straight going cyclists was registered at the end of September compared to the entire previous year.
There is no official definition of a "right-turn accident". Generally, the term is used for all accidents between two parties where both parties prior to the accident have been moving in the same direction on the same road where one party (usually the motor vehicle) subsequently turned right in front of the other (usually a bicycle or moped). Right turn accidents can include accidents involving busses, lorries (including trailer), cars, bicycles, mopeds, pedestrians etc. Most right-turn accidents are registered by the police as occurring between a normal passenger car and a bicycle, while the most serious ones usually occur between a lorry and a bicycle. In fatal right-turn accidents, the turning party is nearly always a lorry. Two-thirds of these fatalities occur at signalized intersections. This strategy therefore focuses on right-turn accidents with lorries and cyclists only.