On April 30, a 65-year-old bicyclist was hit from behind and killed in an accident in West Valley City. The driver drove away but has since been identified.
While motorists should be watching for bicyclists, if you regularly ride your bike, there are several things you can do to reduce your chances of being seriously injured in a crash with a vehicle. Read on.
- Ride on the same side of the road as traffic. If there are vehicles parked along the side of the road, avoid weaving between them.
- Obey traffic laws. This includes stopping at stoplights and stop signs as well as yielding to traffic and pedestrians when needed.
- When possible, avoid traveling on busy roads. This may require taking a longer route. As an alternate, in many places in Salt Lake City and throughout the state, it is legal to ride your bike on the sidewalk.
- If you are riding on the sidewalk, yield to pedestrians, and let pedestrians know before you pass them (ring your bell or verbally say that you are about to pass). Be extra careful at driveways and intersections, where drivers may only be watching for slower moving traffic.
- Take extra care when traveling at night or during bad weather. Only ride your bike at night if it is equipped with front and back lights. Reflectors on your spokes and reflective clothing may also help to make you more visible to motorists.
- Pay attention to drivers around you. If you feel unsafe on the road because of high traffic or erratic drivers, pull into a parking lot or another area off the road for a few minutes.
- Always wear a helmet. While bicyclists are not required by Utah law to wear a helmet, wearing one can prevent serious head injuries if you fall off your bike or if you are hit by a vehicle.
Unfortunately, even when you are working to be a safe bicyclist, drivers may cause an accident. If you are a bicyclist who was injured in an accident caused by an inattentive driver, our Salt Lake City attorneys can help.
