Statistics show that the United States witnesses 40000 bicycle accidents every year. That’s a high number considering that so many people get injured in such accidents. As such, as a cyclist, you should do all you can to avoid getting into accidents.
Here are a few tips to help you avoid bicycle accidents on the road.
Ride the Right Size of Bicycle
When riding a bicycle, you should be comfortable enough to reach the pedals and steer the bicycle. Only ride size-appropriate bicycles to keep you steady on the road.
If you ride a bicycle that’s too small, you won’t be comfortable while riding. If it’s too big, it might be hard to control it on the road. Each of these situations set you up for accidents because you won’t have 100% control of the bicycle.
Wear Reflective Gear Always
When on the road, you have a safety responsibility to yourself and other road users. As such, you should mark your presence on the road with reflective gear at all times.
Reflective gear makes you visible on the road and will help other road users avoid hitting you. A high percentage of bicycle accidents in the US are caused by cyclists who don’t wear reflective gear.
Use Headlights at Night
If you ride your bicycle at night, always use well-serviced headlights. Besides shedding light on your cycling paths, the headlights will alert oncoming road users of your presence on the road. They help to avoid head-on collisions on the road.
Talk to your bicycle repairer if your headlights are not working properly. They can repair the headlights or ask you to replace them. You can also ask them for tips on how to clean the headlights and what to do if they fail while you’re on the road.
Stay on Your Lane
Riding a bicycle can be thrilling and you might want to test other roads apart from the cycling lane. Don’t succumb to this temptation. Always ride on the cycling lane. Besides getting you in trouble with the authorities, riding in undesignated lanes and areas can cause road accidents.
Read and understand the safety regulations on the road to know how fast you should ride in different areas. You also need to be conversant with the cyclist regulations in your state. If you’re not sure what’s legal and what’s not, you can talk to a bicycle accident lawyer to help you stay out of trouble.
Remember not to wear headphones when riding your bicycle. This will help you stay alert to other road users and hear when vehicles hoot at you and steer you off danger.
Service Your Bike
Bicycles can also get unroadworthy and become accident triggers. It’s your responsibility to ensure that your bike meets all the road-worthiness qualities required in your state. Visit your repairman constantly to have your bicycle serviced. This is most important if you ride the bicycle often, because this leaves it susceptible to wear and tear.
If you ever find yourself in a bicycle accident, you should contact your bicycle accident lawyer to help you navigate the legalities.
