Bicycle Safety for Kids

As an adult, you probably have many fond memories of spending endless hours on your bicycle riding around the neighborhood when you were a child. Perhaps you used to ride your bike to school, to the local convenient store, and your friends’ houses. Now that you have a child, you want him or her to enjoy riding as you did, but you don’t want them to get hurt in the process. After all, most parents worry about their children’s safety, especially when it comes to bikes, skateboards and roller blades.

Bicycle riding is a great way to get your child outside for fresh air; it allows them to get away from video games or the TV so they can be active; it also allows them to be more independent. Benefits aside, we must remember that children can be in bicycle accidents and sometimes they can be fatal.

If your son or daughter rides a bicycle and you teach them the following basic safety tips, it can help them ride more safely and reduce the risk of a crash:

• Always wear a bicycle helmet that fits properly. Helmets protect our brains and can save lives.
• Make sure your bicycle fits your body. If it’s uncomfortable, adjust it so it allows you to ride comfortably.
• Before going for a ride, check that your tires are inflated properly and check the brakes to ensure they’re working.
• It’s important to be seen by motorists. Whether it’s day or night, wearing white, neon, or fluorescent clothing helps others see you.
• Remember, you may see a driver but that doesn’t mean they can see you.
• Always watch for motorists. Do not dart out in a street without looking around for oncoming vehicles first.
• Look for road hazards, such as pot holes, puddles, slippery leaves, unleashed dogs, broken glass, and gravel. All of these things can cause you to crash. If you’re riding with your friends, take the lead and point out road hazards to them.
• Avoid riding in the dark – it’s a lot more dangerous than riding during the day because it’s hard for motorists to see you.
• If you do ride in the dark, use a bicycle light, wear reflective clothing and place reflectors on the front and back of your bike.
• Watch out for distracted drivers, especially ones who are texting while driving. Someone can be texting and hit you.

Parents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Many bicycle-related crashes resulting in injury or death are associated with the bicyclist’s behavior.” Some of these behaviors riding into the street without stopping, not wearing a helmet, running a stop sign, and riding the wrong way around cars. To help your children stay safe, make sure they always wear a helmet and learn to obey the rules of the road.

Has someone in your family been injured in a bicycle accident? If so, contact our firm at once to schedule a consultation with a Long Island bike accident attorney!