May is National Bike Safety Month in the U.S. Each year more than 500,000 people in the U.S. are treated in the emergency room and more than 700 people die as a result of bicycle-related injuries. You can greatly reduce the chances of having a bike-related injury if you follow some simple rules which can make your bike riding safer and more enjoyable.
Some Basic Rules
- Before you get on your bike, put on a helmet that fits your head.
- Check your bike to make sure it is in safe and working right.
- Never ride out into a street without stopping and looking both ways first.
- Obey traffic signs and signals.
- Stop at all intersections and crosswalks, both marked and unmarked.
- Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and skaters.
- Check behind you before swerving, turning, or changing lanes.
- Ride on the right side of the road with the traffic flow, not against it.
- Never follow another rider without applying the rules.
Teach Your Children to Ride a Bicycle Safely
- Teach your children the basic rules to avoid fatal crashes.
- Teach them to wear a helmet, and make sure that they wear it.
- Help them learn to balance and ride according to the basic rules.
Protecting Yourself while Bike Riding at Night
- Use a headlight.
- Be sure your bike has front and rear reflectors, pedal reflectors, and side rim or wheel reflectors.
- Wear reflective clothing.
- Wear a CPSC-approved helmet.
- Young children should not ride at night.
- Avoid riding on dark, narrow roadways.
bmr
5/4/2008