With over 100,000 bicycle accidents occurring each year, knowing how to navigate the roads on your bike is more important than ever. This begins with understanding how bicycle accidents occur in the first place.
So what are the common causes of bicycle accidents? Why do they occur and how do you avoid them?
That’s what we’re here to look at today. Read on to find out more about some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents.
Distracted Drivers
Distracted drivers often cause regular car crashes, and it remains a common cause of bike accidents as well. When drivers are looking at their phones or aren’t paying attention to the roads, they often don’t see cyclists.
This leads to drivers bumping into cyclists. This not only ruins their biking equipment but completely endangers their lives.
Speeding
Speeding puts cyclists in danger no matter how fast a car might be going. In a large public road, a driver going far above the speed limit definitely puts cyclists at risk.
Even drivers going a few miles over in a residential area puts bike riders at risk. Fast drivers, therefore, put a lot of bicycle enthusiasts in a tough spot.
Poor Visibility
Sometimes a driver and a cyclist just don’t see each other before it’s too late. A dark or foggy night impairs just about anyone’s vision, making bike accidents that much more common in these environments.
Lane Shifts
Cars shifting lanes often cause a lot of unintentional accidents since drivers often have a few blind spots. Non-attentive drivers tend to miss a cyclist in their path, leading to collisions that greatly affect the cyclist.
Sometimes drivers make unsafe lane shifts, forgetting to check their blind spots and crashing into or checking a cyclist. This unfortunately harms the cyclist a lot more than the car.
Turning
Similar to lane shifts, simply turning a corner causes a lot of accidents. Cyclists may be hidden behind a building or a driver may not be looking in their direction when making a turn.
Just like how pedestrians are endangered when drivers don’t check their corners, bicycle riders are put at a lot of risks when facing these situations.
Avoiding Bicycle Accidents Altogether
So how do you avoid these bicycle accidents? There are plenty of precautions that cyclists can take to keep themselves safe at all times.
Wearing as much safety equipment is a great start. Investing in helmets or even pads for children is a safe move.
You could even wear bright clothing that drivers can see even in the dark. This minimizes the chances of someone failing to look your way during a turn or lane shift.
Finally, be as attentive as possible on the roads. It never hurts to be extra careful out there. If you want to know more about bike accident prevention and your rights, check out that link.
Understanding Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents have plenty of causes but are avoidable if you know what those causes are. Use this guide to help you understand how bicycle accidents occur and learn how to ride safely.
For more informative articles on biking essentials, common sports injuries, and other topics, check out the rest of our site!
