According to the City of New York website, while the majority of bikers ride during the day, 45 percent of biker fatalities occur at night. As a result, red tail lights and white front lights will help improve your visibility and avoid accidents. In addition, more than 300,000 children go to the hospital each year after bike accidents. According to Kids Health, most of the serious injuries seen in these hospital visits are a result of head trauma. This risk of head injury often can be minimized with the proper application of a bike helmet.
Headlights
A white front headlight is designed to help you stay visible at night and, according to Bicycle Safe, it is required by law and will help you avoid accidents. In addition to night riding, turning your white headlight to flash mode during the daytime can help you prevent accidents. LED headlights are known to last 10 times longer than traditional headlights. In addition to a front headlight, a helmet light should be worn for extra visibility and protection.
Proper Fitting Bike Helmets
Another tip for bike riding safety is purchasing a helmet that fits you snugly and securely. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it is important to first measure your head with a tape measure to get your exact size. Then purchase a helmet with a variety of sizing pads. Place in the appropriate sizing pads and put the helmet on your head. The helmet should sit two finger widths above your brow. After adjusting the straps, perform a yawn to see if the helmet pulls down on your head. If it does not, check over your steps to make sure you have fitted your helmet correctly.
Ride To The Left
Many people stay in the far right portion of the bike lane to avoid riding close to cars that are in their direct traffic flow, but riding closer to the left side of the bike lane allows you to be better seen by cars that are crossing the road at intersections or making turns. While it often is scary to ride closer to the flow of traffic, it provides strong visibility levels, especially of turning cars and cars at intersections, making it a safer choice.
Walking Your Bike
Walking your bike is one way to avoid riding situations that are difficult to maneuver out of. If you are riding up to a busy intersection or a part of a road with low visibility, get off the bike and walk it through this portion of your ride. In addition to walking your bike, obeying traffic signals and stop signs is important to your safety. While bikers tend to abide by pedestrian law, it is important to remember that you are riding a moving vehicle that must adhere to the same laws as cars and motorcycles.
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