According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there were 716 cyclists killed and an additional 52,000 cyclists injured in traffic crashes in 2008. Bicycle-related fatalities, while on the decrease, still account for 2 percent of all traffic-related deaths. Your use of proper bicycle safety equipment can help reduce your likelihood of suffering a traffic-related injury but should be used in conjunction with riding strategies that are most likely to actually save your life, including following the rules of the road and learning how to safely pilot a bicycle.
Let Yourself Be Seen
The two best ways to let yourself be seen by motorized traffic, pedestrians and other cyclists while riding a bicycle are to use front- and rear-mounted lights and to wear clothing bearing reflective strips. BicycleSafe.com suggests that using headlights is just as important as using rear lights while riding your bicycle, and that you should use LED lights because they last 10 times as long on a set of batteries as conventional bicycle lights. Lights are cost-effective and easy to replace, and they should be mounted so they're visible to traffic approaching you in all directions. The strobe function on many of the new LED lights is particularly effective at grabbing the attention of nearby traffic. Clothing bearing reflective strips could also save your life. MyCyclingAdvice.info states that, although not specifically required by law, numerous state cycling organizations recommended you wear reflective clothing while biking, as a safety precaution. Consider wearing a construction vest while cycling at night. These vests are designed to be seen by approaching traffic from several hundred yards away. If you're using panniers, consider putting several strips of reflective tape on the front and back of your bags to enhance your visibility.
Wear a Helmet
The National Survey of Bicyclists and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior, an August 2008 report sponsored by the United States government, found that 50 percent of bicyclists wear a helmet for at least some trips and 35 percent of riders wear a helmet for almost all trips. According to the Mayo Clinic, wearing a bicycle helmet is one of the most important bicycle safety activities you can perform and is the most effective way to prevent a life-threatening head injury for both children and adults alike. But your helmet needs to fit correctly so that it can provide you with maximal protection. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute suggests purchasing one of the following 2010 helmet brands and models: the Giro Xen, Louis Garneau Baristo, Schwinn Intercept or Specialized Instinct. However, BHSI notes that other models may be just as protective, and that you can do equally well by finding a helmet that meets the following criteria: It fits you, it's round and smooth on the outside and has no snag points in back and it has a sticker on its inside certifying that it meets the CPSC standard. BHSI also suggests your ideal bicycle helmet should effectively handle as much energy as possible during a very hard crash.
Practice Defensive Riding Techniques
BicycleSafe.com recommends the following riding strategies to avoid being hit by a motorized vehicle: Avoid busy streets, occupy the whole lane when appropriate, signal your turns and rethink music players and mobile phones. Avoiding busy streets reduces your likelihood of being involved in a traffic-related accident. The volume of vehicles on these streets is lower and the speed at which vehicles are traveling is reduced. In most cities, if you learn the proper routes, you can significantly minimize your exposure to traffic. Sometimes it's safer for you to take up the entire lane or shift more to your left while you're riding. Cars at intersections ahead of you will see you better, and you'll be better able to avoid slamming into a car door opened by an unsuspecting motorist in a parked car. Occupying more of the road is also useful on roads with narrow or no shoulders, as this leaves you with a safety margin should you need to swerve to your right, and it forces vehicles to pass you in the oncoming lane instead of brushing by you in the same lane. Signaling your turns is another simple and effective way to avoid traffic-related injuries, as is avoiding the use of music players and mobile phones when riding. Minimizing distractions allows you to focus on what's going on around you.
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