Columbia, SC Bike Accident Prevention & Back-to-School Safety

With children and college students heading back to school, bicycle traffic during busy hours may be increasing. According to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, there are around nine million bicycle trips throughout the U.S. daily. Approximately four percent of bicycle riders use their bikes to commute to and from school, so many of these riders will be starting their commutes in late August and early September.

Drivers and bicycle riders need to be aware of the risks that bicyclists face on the roads. In 2012, there were 726 bike riders killed in collisions over the course of the year. With 3.2 percent of bicycle trips taken by kids 15 and under, parents also need to be aware of the risks. In total, 18 percent of bicycle riders who were hurt in motor vehicle collisions in 2010 were 14 or younger.

If a bicycle accident occurs, a personal injury lawyer can help families determine who was to blame and can assist victims in pursuing a claim for compensation.

Bicycle Safety and Back-to-School

Many bike riders use the roads to get to school or to their other destinations. In fact, The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center reports that almost half – a total of 48.1 percent – of bike trips take place on paved roads. Only 13.6 percent of trips occur on sidewalks and 12.8 percent involve the rider riding his bike on the shoulder of the road.

When riding on the road, bicyclists need to obey the rules that apply to all motorists. Bike riders should also do their best to ensure that they have selected a safe route. If kids are commuting to school, parents should help them to select the best route to take. Parents Central at Safer Car.gov has advice on the 10 characteristics of a safe route for commuting to school. These include:

• A road with a low traffic volume.
• Sidewalks, paths for bicycle riders or bike lanes.
• A road with a low speed limit.
• A road where there are no overgrown trees, bushes or other obstacles obstructing the view.
• Sufficient lighting so drivers can easily see riders.
• A road with clearly-marked pedestrian crossings and/or with traffic signals to control traffic.
• A road that is used by multiple bicycle riders and pedestrians.
• An area where there are safety groups such as a neighborhood watch.
• A road where there are groups of pedestrians or bicycle riders led by safe and responsible role models.
• A road where drivers generally tend to follow the rules, obey the speed limit and yield the right-of-way to bicyclists when it is their turn.

It can be difficult for bicycle riders to predict the behavior of drivers, as even one careless or distracted driver could prove deadly for a bicyclist who is traveling to school. Parents are urged to ensure that children ride wearing properly-fitted helmets at all times. Unfortunately, a helmet cannot protect against all injuries. Drivers must obey the rules of the road and do their part to keep bicycle riders safe, especially now that young people are back to school and may be using their bikes to get to class.

South Carolina car accident victims should contact S. Randall Hood of McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC at 803-327-7800 for a free case consultation.