It is almost that time of year again, the springtime of course. In just a few weeks, and maybe even right now depending on where you live, we will see cyclists on the road. If you know anything about The Gooch Firm, P.C. it should be that we absolutely love and support cycling. We are all excited that within just a few short weeks we will be able to ride our bicycles to work. In the spirit of being able to safely join our fellow cyclists, we wanted to take a moment and remind everyone of a few easy tips to stay out of harm’s way.
- Stay Visible: Remember that the most common reason that for a cyclist and a car to collide is that the driver of the vehicle cannot or did not see the cyclist. Not only is it a great idea to have a white headlight and red taillight, and side reflectors on your bike, it is also Utah law. Along with these reflective lights, it is also a good idea to wear light, easy to see clothing when cycling. When it comes to cycling safety, it is not just what you wear, but where you are. Keep out of the driver’s blind spots and make sure that you are both aware of each other before making maneuvers in traffic.
- Act Like a Car: Going right along with our first point, it is essential to realize that drivers are used to the moving patterns of other vehicles. What this all boils down to is that if I driver of a car wouldn’t think to look for a car when making a maneuver; they will not think to look for a cyclist making that maneuver. Two of the most common types of cycling injuries occur when cyclists act outside of what a vehicle would do. These common causes of bicycle and auto accidents are illustrated below.
- General Safety: This last point is to just remind us all of those common knowledge safety points that we can sometimes overlook or forget. It’s the simple things that can make a huge difference. For example, always wearing your helmet, get side mirrors to help see behind you, and keep your bike in top shape, make sure your brakes are working and your tires are properly inflated before hopping on for a ride.
Remember to stay vigilant when sharing the road with cars and pedestrians alike. It is worth taking the time to slow down, to ensure your safety. Please stay alert and obey all traffic laws. Even though we are practicing injured cyclist attorneys, we would much rather see everyone be safe on all Utah, Wyoming and Idaho roads.
