Nighttime Bicycling

A young mother was struck and killed by a Florida Highway Patrol officer when she crossed a roadway on her bike against the light.  The officer was on his way to address a call when the bicycle, which had no lights on it, ran a red light and crossed US 41. The resulting fatality was devastating for the woman’s family, as well as for friends, neighbors, and for the young officer driving the vehicle in the accident. If only the woman had done more to ensure that she was visible.

Bicycle Safety 

Many people love to be on their bikes in Florida, whether for work, school, recreation, exercise, or just to enjoy the wonderful Florida climate.  Sometimes those rides occur at dusk, dawn, or even when the sun has set.  For those to ride—go for it—but please, play it safe and make smart choices!

1. Have front and rear lights on your bicycle. It will help you to see where you’re going and avoid obstacles, and, equally important, will make you visible to others on the road.
2. Ride where drivers will see you, and clearly indicate what your intentions are so you don’t surprise motorists.
3. Wear reflective clothing, in addition to having reflectors on your pedals, tires, and elsewhere. Particularly on pedals, research indicates that the movement is noticeable to drivers. Certainly, having reflectors on the sides will make you visible to drivers who are perpendicular to you.
4. Have back-up lights in case your primary lighting system fails.
5. Ride carefully.  Even if you’ve traveled the route many times before, hazards like potholes, wet leaves, or gravel could surprise you. Any road looks different at night, so take it a little slower.
6.  Leave space between bicyclists. Since the possibility of hazards is very real, you need to make sure that you don’t pile on to a fellow rider if they run into a problem.
7. Inform others of your intended route and your expected arrival time. Be sure to have them alert authorities if you don’t show up as expected.
8. Check your bike before heading out.  Underinflated tires, poorly working breaks, or other problems with the bike’s function could spell disaster at night!
9. Wear clear glasses or goggles. They will protect your eyes from drying out from the breeze, as well as from debris that might fly up as cars zip by.
10. Don’t hug the side of the road too tightly—you do want to be visible to traffic!

Personal Injury 

Despite the best planning, if a reckless or negligent motorist causes serious harm or death, you may be entitled to damages to address medical bills and more.  To discuss the possibilities, schedule a confidential consultation with the aggressive Kissimmee personal injury attorneys at Salazar & Kelly Law Group, P.A. today.

Source:

fox13news.com/news/bicyclist-struck-killed-sarasota-county-sheriffs-office-patrol-vehicle