What Are the Best Bicycle Safety Tips for Avoiding Bicycle Accidents in Florida?
Cycling can be a great form of exercise and is a convenient method of transportation. However, cycling alongside motor vehicles can also be a very dangerous endeavor. According to the National Safety Council, there were 1,089 bicycle deaths in 2019; 712 of these deaths were caused by motor vehicle accidents. The National Safety Council classified these bicycle deaths as preventable, which shows that there are steps that cyclists and motorists can take to reduce the amount of bicycle accidents. The following list will provide tips for both motorists and cyclists to avoid bicycle accidents.
Motorists
- Obey all posted speed limits. By adhering to the posted speed limits, you can help ensure that you are able to safely avoid hitting a cyclist. Additionally, you should also ensure that you adjust your speed accordingly when there are dangerous road conditions.
- Yield to cyclists on the road. Cyclists should be regarded as any other motorists. As such, make sure you yield to cyclists when possible and don’t underestimate their speed.
- Don’t engage in distracting behavior. Don’t follow too closely behind a cyclist, as you will not be able to stop safely in case of an emergency. Ensure that you maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and the bicycle, just as you would with any other vehicle. Also, do not use your horn unless absolutely necessary. The sound of a car horn can be very distracting to cyclists and can cause them to crash.
- When you’re in the parking lot, stay alert for cyclists. When backing out of parking spaces and entering roadways, take an extra second to check for cyclists in your blind spots.
Cyclists
- Make sure your bicycle is fully functional. Before heading out on the road, do a quick check to make sure that your bicycle is working properly (i.e., check the brakes, assess the tire pressure, etc.). This will help to ensure that your bicycle does not malfunction on the road, which can cause a serious accident.
- If you are cycling at night, wear reflective material. Road visibility is very low at night. If a motorist cannot see you or your bicycle, there is a chance that you could be involved in a crash. Make sure you are wearing clothing with reflective material or that your bike has some of this material on it to make you and your bicycle easy for motorists to spot.
- Keep with the flow of traffic. Make sure that you are maintaining the same speed with other motorists to ensure that you do not incidentally cause an accident. Also remember to travel in the same direction as traffic.
- Don’t engage in distracted riding. While riding, it is best not to listen to music or use your cell phone so that you are able to remain fully alert and can avoid a potential accident. It might be helpful to plan your trip in advance so that you do not have to use a GPS.
If drivers and cyclists work together, we can all do our best to avoid bicycle accidents.
Were You Injured in a Bicycle Accident? Contact a Fort Lauderdale Attorney
If you were recently injured in a bicycle accident and need to discuss your options, contact the Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident attorneys at The Rosen Injury Law, P.A. Firm. Our team is prepared to assist you throughout each step of your case.
Resource:
injuryfacts.nsc.org/home-and-community/safety-topics/bicycle-deaths/
