North Carolina can be a very dangerous place for you as a bicyclist these days. Motor vehicle drivers are more distracted than ever with smartphones sitting right beside them. This is why you should make sure you are riding your bicycle in a defensive manner while riding on the road for whatever reason. When you are riding on the roadway, you can follow a couple tips to make sure you are as safe as possible during a frightening time. Let’s take a closer look at these tips so you can be prepared for what may happen.
“NC is ranked as the 10th most dangerous state for bicyclists.”
Bicycles are smaller modes of transportation for humans so they are more difficult to see by motorists speeding by. Because of that reason alone, bicyclists are more likely to get into an accident with a motorist. The same could very easily be said about a motorcyclist. We need to ensure our safety along with the safety of those around us by taking part in a few safety measures. The best piece of advice is to make sure you are wearing protective clothing. Protective clothing includes a helmet, long sleeves on your arms, and full-length pants on your legs. When you are riding your bicycle on the road, you should also be wearing shoes that cover your entire foot instead of a flip flop or sandal.
“Always watch out for your safety because drivers may not.”
When riding your bicycle on the road, it’s a good idea to “drive” defensively. Make sure you are looking out for your own safety. Other drivers won’t be looking out for you so it’s in your best interests to look out for yourself. If you see another driver, don’t automatically assume they’ll move over for you or give you room to maneuver yourself around an obstacle.
The fact is, they may not do either of those things for you. This is exactly why it’s a good idea to look out for your own best interests while riding on the road for any length of time. If you don’t look out for yourself, you can believe that no one else will. One of the first steps toward road safety is looking out for yourself.
“Keep an eye on your surroundings to the best of your ability.”
Another thing you can do for yourself is to look around at your surroundings on a regular basis. If you see a vehicle, make sure you move over if you need to do so. By looking out for yourself in this way, you are ensuring that you will not get into another accident. Motor vehicles may not be paying attention to their surroundings due to distractions. Because of these distractions, they might not see you right next to them. This is exactly why you need to look around you as much as you possibly can while on the road. It could very well save your life and the lives of other pedestrians in your immediate vicinity.
Greenville, NC Bicycle Accident Attorneys
I’m Brian Ricci, a Bicycle Accident Lawyer serving Greenville, NC and the surrounding areas. If you have suffered a personal injury, please call me anytime at (252) 777-2222 or 800-387-6406 for free, friendly advice.
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