Bicycles collisions and accidents account for about seven hundred deaths in road accidents every year. With those seven hundred deaths, about half a million people are brought to emergency medical facilities for bicycle related injuries.
Bicycle collisions and accidents are very dangerous as cyclists are not as protected as other motorists are. In addition, other motorists have difficulty seeing bicycles especially at night.
According to statistics, thirty six percent of all bicycle related fatalities happens between 6p.m. and midnight.
Most states have tried to reduce the number of bicycle collisions and accidents by putting up bike routes and specific bike lanes. But not all roads have these specific facilities so bicycle accidents are still happening.
Causes of Bicycle Collisions
Bicycle collisions and accidents usually do not involve bicycles alone. Most of the time it involves other vehicles like cars, trucks and buses.
Bicycle collisions and accidents can be caused by a number of things. Here are some of the most common causes:
• Road condition – Poor road conditions like road potholes or loose gravel can affect the balance and control of the bicycle and could cause him to crash and collide with another vehicle or another object.
• Weather conditions – As with any other road vehicles, slippery roads as a result of rain and snow can affect the speed and stopping abilities of a bicycle.
• Speeding – Higher speeds increases the risk of bicycle collisions. As with other vehicles, a higher speed means less control.
• Inattention – A driver that is not paying attention to the road increases possibility of accidents. This applies to both the bicycle and other vehicle drivers.
• Poor visibility – Most bicycle collisions and accidents happen at night because other vehicles have difficulty seeing bicycles. Fog also decreases visibility and may cause accidents.
• Driving under the Influence – Alcohol and drugs muddle with the driver’s senses and can cause inattentiveness on the road.
• Driving against the flow of traffic – According to studies driving against the traffic increases the chances of bicycle collisions and accidents because the biker is almost invisible to some motorists.
Keep yourself Safe
Most bicycle accidents could be avoided if some measures have been taken to keep themselves safe.
If you are riding a bicycle, you can follow the following guidelines to prevent most bicycle collisions and accidents.
• Avoid driving at night. If it cannot be avoided, make yourself as visible as possible. Place a blinking red rear light and wear a headlamp. You could also wear a reflective vest and your clothes should be in bright colors.
• Always wear a helmet. The use of helmets reduces the possibility of death and head injuries like Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI).
• Practice safe driving. Avoid doing stunts and reckless driving on the road. Drive conspicuously and try to be as predictable as can be for other motorists.
• Drive with the traffic. Driving against the traffic makes you almost invisible to other drivers and increases chances of being hit.
• Mount special seats for a child. If you have a child passenger, make sure that there is a special seat that fits behind the main seat. Spoke guard should also be installed to protect the child’s legs. The child should also have a separate helmet.
