Bike Safety Tips

 Posted on July 08, 2013 in Personal Injury

It is always sad when you are driving on a highway or freeway and you see crosses or flowers on the side of the road that symbolize death from a crash that happened in that location. What is even worse though, is when it is a pedestrian that was hit. Knowing that that person had no chance and no protection against the large piece of metal and plastic that hit him or her. Cars are fairly equal in crashes, although bigger ones are typically safer, but people walking or riding bikes only have a helmet to keep them safe. That is why the National Highway Traffic Safety Association offers many suggestions to keep pedestrians safe. One tip that the NHTSA emphasizes is the difference in safety for riding a bike on the sidewalk compared to riding a bike in the street with cars. If there is not a sidewalk to ride on, however, or if the sidewalk is too crowded with people, bicyclists must ride in the streets with cars and follow all of the laws for motor vehicles, including driving in the same direction. It is recommended for children that are younger than 10 years old to stay on the sidewalk if at all possible because young children to not have the ability "necessary to talk appropriate decisions to drive safely on the street," according to the NHTSA. It is also recommended to bike riders that if they choose to ride on the sidewalk, it is important to check with state laws that it is legal to ride on the sidewalk in your area. Sometimes in areas such as parks, sidewalks are specifically reserved for walkers and runners. Although bike riders are seen as the victims in crashes with motor vehicles, they are just as responsible for keeping themselves safe while riding. Cyclists must watch for motor vehicles that may veer off the road and especially when crossing the street or changing direction. It is also recommended by the NHTSA to warn other pedestrians and cars that are sharing the road when a cyclist is turning or passing. If you have been in a crash with a pedestrian or cyclist on the road, whether or not it was him or her being careless, or you, contact an Illinois accidents attorney to help you with the case. Attorneys at Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices in Illinois with fight for you today.