| Since 1994, there have been 40,000 fatal | | | | California. From 2002-2006 there were 11 fatal |
| accidents in the United States each year. The | | | | rear-end bike accidents in the state and many |
| scary thing for cyclists in California is that nearly | | | | more accidents that resulted in injury. |
| 10% of them are happening in their state. | | | | Rear end bike accidents can happen in a number |
| With an increasing number of vehicles on the | | | | of ways: when a cyclist is making a left turn and |
| road, cyclists need to be careful when it comes | | | | a driver doesn't see him in the lane, when a |
| to their safety. While bike accidents only account | | | | cyclist swerves to dodge an obstacle without |
| for around 3% of California's fatal collisions, there | | | | seeing the car behind them, or when a driver |
| are hazards coming from each and every | | | | doesn't see a cyclist on the road at night. |
| direction. | | | | The best way to avoid rear-end accidents is to |
| Side Crashes | | | | communicate your directional changes and get |
| Usually when a cyclist gets hit on the side it | | | | quality safety gear including a mirror, reflectors, a |
| doesn't prove to be fatal. Nonetheless, you should | | | | flashing red rear light, and a glowing safety |
| still know how to protect yourself from | | | | triangle. |
| side-impact collisions while biking. A couple of the | | | | Front Collisions |
| most common places for side crashes to occur | | | | The front of the bike is the initial point of impact |
| include intersections and crosswalks. | | | | in over 80% of California's bike accidents each |
| California averages around 10 fatal side-impact | | | | year. There are numerous ways you may be |
| bike accidents each year, with most of the | | | | involved in this type of bike accident, but often |
| crashes occurring on the right side. You can | | | | times these are also the most avoidable. |
| prevent side collisions by practicing safe biking | | | | Unlike rear-end collisions or some side crashes, the |
| habits such as scanning every intersection, never | | | | threat is always in your line of view. You can |
| assuming a vehicle sees you, and communicating | | | | greatly reduce your chance of being in a bike |
| with others through signals and other methods. | | | | accident by practicing good observation skills and |
| The Rear End | | | | being aware of possible hazards before they are |
| While not nearly as common, rear end bike | | | | too close to dodge. |
| accidents still pose a major risk for cyclists in | | | | |