It’s spring and along with the budding bushes and trees comes more cyclists on the road. You may even be one of these brave, healthy souls reading this. It’s a wonderful form of transportation and exercise so both drivers and cyclists listen up…we all have a part in keeping everyone safe on the road. Before listing the 10-ways to AVOID the most common bike-auto collisions,
let’s first look at the 5 most common CAUSES of these sorts of accidents:
Although it’s a fabulous idea for motor vehicle drivers to be keenly aware of bicyclists, kids, and pedestrians on the road, we know it’s not always the case. In fact, over 50% of accidents are due to driver distraction. If you’re driving a car, wake up and focus. If you’re on a bike, it’s critical that you take measures to AVOID these nasty bike-auto wrecks. Here’s how:
Get Lit
Too obvious? Well, if it’s so obvious, then why do most night-time cyclists ride without lights? Over 30% of deaths on bicycles happen between 6pm-midnight.
Ride further to the left when passing parked cars to avoid getting hit by a car door.
You may be wary about riding so far into the lane that cars can’t pass you easily, but you’re more likely to get doored by a parked car if you ride too close to it than you are to get hit from behind by a car which can see you clearly.
Don’t ride on the sidewalk.
When you come off the sidewalk to cross the street, you’re invisible to motorists.
Don’t stop in a car’s blind-spot.
Simply stop behind a car, instead to the right of it.
Wear something bright, even during the day.
It may seem silly, but bikes are small and easy to see through, even during the day. Yellow or orange reflective vests really make a big difference.
Never, ever move left without looking behind you first.
Some motorists like to pass cyclists within mere inches., so moving even a tiny bit to the left unexpectedly could put you n the path of a car.
Don’t swerve in and out of a parking lane if it contains any parked cars.
Instead, ride a steady, straight line in the traffic lane.
Use a mirror.
Once you’ve ridden with a mirror, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it.
Signal.
You’re less likely to get hit when your movement doesn’t take motorists by surprise.
Ride as if you’re invisible to drivers.
Assume they can’t see you–ever. You’re not trying to be invisible,. Just make it irrelevant whether cars see you or not. Then you won’t get hit even if they didn’t notice you were there.