How Drivers can Better Share the Road With Bicyclists

Coexisting with bicyclists seems fairly easy on the surface yet once you are on a busy street with countless distractions, accommodating bicyclists proves easier said than done.  Automobiles are significant hazards in the context of bike riding as these massive vehicles weigh thousands of pounds.  Sadly, hundreds of bicyclists perish every single year as a result of collisions with automobiles.  Furthermore, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports thousands of bicyclists are injured each year due to accidents involving motor vehicles.

Our personal injury attorneys are here to ensure the negligent motorist pays for your loss, injury, pain, suffering, diminished working capacity and all other related losses.  The bottom line is drivers have a legal duty to share the road with bicyclists as well as other motorists.  Below, we provide a few tips that will help drivers and bicyclists coexist on the road without drama nor injury.

Look Twice Before Turning Left

When drivers attempt to complete a left-hand turn, there is a heightened chance of contact with a bicyclist crossing the intersection.  In some cases, drivers see the bicyclist, assume there is enough time to make the left turn yet end up striking the bicyclist or running him or her off the road.  Oftentimes, after such a collision, the motorist will indicate he or she did not understand just how fast the bicyclist was cycling.  The little-known truth is plenty of bicyclists on local roads reach speeds upwards of 15 to 20 miles per hour.  In other words, it is awfully difficult for drivers to understand how fast bicyclists are actually moving.  When in doubt, be safe rather than sorry by yielding to oncoming bicyclists rather than attempting to complete a left-hand turn just in the nick of time.

Look Closely Prior to Exiting Your Vehicle

Drivers and passengers in automobiles are legally required to look for bicyclists prior to opening their car door in order to depart the vehicle.  Take a moment to think about how painful it is to get hit by a door that swings open when riding a bike.  It merely takes an extra couple seconds to look to see if a bicyclist is approaching before opening your door to exit your vehicle.  If a bicyclist is nearing your vehicle, do the smart thing by waiting.  After all, you have the opportunity to look for cyclists yet these vulnerable riders do not have the opportunity to see if someone is positioned within a parked vehicle.

Know the Rules of the Road as They Pertain to Bicyclists

The typical driver does not understand the rules of the road for bicyclists.  There really are detailed rules on the books bicyclists must adhere to when traversing public streets.  In most cases, bicyclists are viewed as similar to automobile drivers in that they must respect all traffic laws.  However, the right of way for bicyclists must be respected as they have the legal right to use the road just as much as motor vehicle operators.

Provide Ample Clearance for Bicyclists

In general, drivers should provide bicyclists with a minimum of three feet of clearance.  Furthermore, drivers should decrease their rate of speed when passing a bicyclist.  Otherwise, the bike rider won’t have enough time to react accordingly.

Recognize the Inherent Danger of Right-hand Turns

Bike-on-car collisions often occur at intersections simply because there is that much more traffic in these areas.  When making a right turn, drivers must take a little bit of extra time to look for riders.  It is quite possible a bicyclist is riding behind the vehicle in question or on the driver’s right side and planning on continuing straight ahead.  If the driver fails to turn on the right turn signal or at least check his or her side mirror, there is a good chance a collision will occur.  If you are unsure if a bicyclist will turn right, look for his or her elevated left hand, typically making the shape of a square.  Furthermore, extending the right hand also signals the rider intends to complete a turn.

Recognize the Fact That Bicyclists are in Harm’s Way

The moral of this story is bicyclists are quite vulnerable on the road.  The typical vehicle weighs in excess of a couple thousand pounds while the average bicycle weighs about 25 pounds.  Collide with a bicyclist and you just might cause a serious injury or even death.  The bottom line is you will likely emerge from an accident with a bicyclist unscathed due to your vehicle’s protective “shell” while the bicyclist suffers egregiously painful and potentially life-changing injuries.

Injured in an Accident? Contact Our Legal Team Today

Have you been injured while riding your bike, driving, walking or using a defective product?  If another person or party’s lack of due care (negligence) caused your pain, suffering or loss of any sort, reach out to Schibell & Mennie today.  Dial 732-774-1000 to schedule a no-cost consultation with our attorneys led by firm partner Richard Schibell.

The post How Drivers can Better Share the Road With Bicyclists appeared first on Richard D Schibell.

source https://www.richardschibell.com/drivers-can-better-share-road-bicyclists/