Accident was the third cycling fatality to occur this month and the 14th to take place on New South Wales roads in 2013

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

A cyclist was killed on Tuesday after she collided with a truck in Sydney – the the third cyclist fatality in New South Wales in a month.

The woman was cycling through St Peters when she and the Kenworth truck crashed. She was taken to hospital but later died.

On 30 October, 45-year-old Paulo Froes was killed when he clipped a taxi while traveling with a group of fellow cyclists in Turramurra. Froes fell into the path of an oncoming car driven by a 17-year-old on a learner’s permit.

Three days later, Matthew Fitzgerald, 44, died from severe head injuries one week after falling off his bike when he hit a rock.

Fitzgerald was cycling with a group in Kurnell before the accident. He was wearing a helmet, according to Fairfax, but sustained serious head trauma among other injuries. Another rider fell at the same time, but was treated for minor injuries and made a full recovery.

The most recent accident is the 14th cycling fatality on NSW roads in 2013. There had been seven by the same time last year.

According to data from the NSW centre for road safety, this year’s rate of fatalities, prior to the most recent accident, is almost 40% higher than the 2010-2012 average.

In 2011, four of the 10 cyclists killed in that year, and 14% of those injured were not wearing a helmet.

Bicycle NSW CEO Alex Unwin expressed condolences for the families of the three cyclists, and continued the organisation’s calls for improved safety initiatives including separated cycle lanes and greater awareness among all road users.

“Bicycle NSW advocates for better cycling infrastructure and better awareness among all road users about how to share the road safely,” Unwin said.

“Cycling is a mainstream form of active transport and recreation, but the human trauma costs of bicycle riding are unacceptable,” said Tracey Gaudry, CEO of the Amy Gillett Foundation, a bike safety awareness group set up in honour of the Australian athlete who was killed in a cycling accident in Germany.

“A substantial commitment to change is needed to improve the safety for bicycle riders.”

Police inquiries into Tuesday’s accident are continuing.