According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, 698 people died in bicycling accidents on U.S. roads in 2007. The best way to prevent cycling accidents and collisions is to obey traffic rules so other road users can predict your movements. Keep an eye out for dangers, including bad road surfaces, motorists, dogs, pedestrians and other bicyclists. Aside from general traffic laws, riders have their own code of conduct to prevent crashes between cyclists.
Traffic Rules
Obey traffic laws so motorists can anticipate your movements and prevent accidents. Yield right-of-way when necessary and come to a full stop at stop signs and lights. Signal to the cars behind you when you are going to turn or stop. If it is unsafe to remove your hands from the handlebars to signal, make your intention clear by looking over your shoulder and nodding your head in the direction you plan to go. Use lights and reflective clothing when riding at night. Never ride against traffic or on the wrong side of the road. It can be fun to fly down the hill at top speed on a winding descent, but never cross the center line on blind turns because a car might be coming in the opposite direction.
Safety Rules
The best way to stay safe on the road is to ensure that you are seen. Wear brightly colored or reflective clothing to increase your visibility. Wear your helmet whenever you mount your bike. When riding next to a line of parked cars, leave extra room, even if it means taking up the full lane, so you don’t get “doored” by someone exiting their car. If you must take up the whole lane, move right to let motorists pass as soon as it is safe. Always be considerate of other road users to prevent animosity and aggressive driving.
Be Aware
Always scan your surroundings--especially sidewalks and cross streets--for anything that might cause a collision. Try to make eye contact with drivers to spot distracted drivers and ensure that they see you. In order to hear danger coming as well as seeing it, never ride with earphones. Check over your shoulder often to keep tabs on the positions of oncoming vehicles.
Paceline Rules
There are special rules to prevent crashes in a paceline, which is when cyclists ride inches apart. Call out or point to obstacles such as potholes and glass that riders behind you cannot see. If you spot a hole or rock too late, ride over it rather than swerve into another rider. Never brake suddenly in a paceline because the rider behind you won’t have time to react. Announce when you are turning, slowing, stopping or standing up. Call “car back” when a car is approaching from behind. Call “car up” for oncoming cars. When you are passing a cyclist who is not part of the group, call “on your left” so you don’t startle them.
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