Submitted by Pat G., Trauma Outreach and Prevention Coordinator, UPMC Hamot
In the United States, there are about 800 deaths and about 500,000 people that are injured due to bicycle type accidents every year. Hamot Trauma Center treats hundreds of patients of all ages due to bicycle accidents every year. Many of these injuries could be avoided by wearing a helmet and following the rules of the road.
Did You Know?
When you ride on a roadway you must follow the same rules as the cars on the road.
You must have front and back lights on your bike if you are out after dark.
Bicycle helmets can reduce head injuries up to 85%. Wow!
Safety Tips:
Always wear a helmet every time you ride that meets the Snell or CPSC standards.
Be seen. Wear bright colors or reflective stripes.
Check your bike to be sure that the brakes work and that your bike is safe to ride.
Obey all traffic lights, signs, and lane markings.
Never wear ear or head phones because you will not hear traffic.
Try to never ride after dark, but if you must, be sure you have a bright light on the front and back of your bike and wear reflective strips or retro-reflective clothing.
Ride single file on the right side of the road. Ride with traffic.
Check out driveways before crossing - people can miss a bicycle rider.
Make sure your bike fits you and is not too big.
Signal with your left arm to let traffic know where you are going and check behind you before you make a right turn to be sure there is no traffic.
For more information on bike safety, check out these websites:
