Motorists and bicyclists, alike, often seem to have a lack of understanding regarding rules of the road by which each must abide.
A recent study shows that there are 90,000,000 cyclists in the U.S., and 30,000,000 are adults. Each year, approximately 1,000 cyclists die from bicycle injuries involving motorists, and another 500,000 are treated for injuries, many of which are traumatic, and debilitating to the point that they are left with permanent brain damage, and/or permanent paralysis.
It’s imperative for motorists to understand that a bicyclist has rights to the roadway as a motorist does; at the same time, bicyclists are responsible for knowing and obeying the same traffic rules and laws as the motorists.
Rules to Help Motorists Share the Road with Bicyclists:
- Even when a city has designated bike lanes, a motorist is supposed to leave a minimum of three feet between the right side of his vehicle and the bicycle he is passing, which is also true if passing another vehicle. Also, keep this rule in mind when preparing to pass a bicyclist when there is oncoming traffic that may not allow for enough room, making it mandatory for you to slow down and treat the bicyclist as you would a slow-moving automobile.
- If a motorist is preparing to make a right turn at an intersection, he needs to remember if a bicyclist is to his right, the bicyclists will most likely be traveling straight ahead, and, therefore, the motorist should never make a right turn ahead of the bicyclist.
- When opening your car door, be careful not to open it in front of an oncoming bicyclist.
- Be aware of grates and other possible roadway hazards that may cause a bicyclist to veer into your lane.
- Never blast your horn when approaching a bicyclist as doing so may startle them and cause them to jerk in front of you or other oncoming traffic.
Tampa Bicycle Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident caused by the negligent behavior of another person, contact Bryan Caulfield today for a free consultation.