Friday, February 3, 2012

Why Bicycle-Car Crashes at the Intersection Occur?


Car crashes account for a lot of the records of accidents in the United States. Different mishaps involving various motor vehicles happen almost every day because of diverse factors. As accidents could happen to almost anyone, every person must be wary on the road and take extra caution.

Cars and bicycles are the types of vehicles that normally have a collision. It is also one of the personal injury cases that most attorneys deal with. As such, bicycle drivers are expected to follow what is mandated by the law. Drivers of this kind of vehicle must comprehend that it is highly risky for them to be on the roads and highways and compete with big-and-four-wheeled cars.

Bikes Failure to Yield

This reason is the third most common type of intersection mishap, which stands for 7.1 percent of all junction accidents. It occurs when the bike driver pulls over at the junctures (controlled or uncontrolled), and then rides into the intersection without yielding. It may be because he or she did not anticipate or see the car. It may also be because the bike driver miscalculated the distance or speed of the car.

The Right Hook

When a car goes right, the subsequent accounts are some of the mishaps that can happen.

The bike goes beyond a car on the right and the car turns right into the bike.
The car goes beyond a bike as they approach an intersection and then the car turns right at the intersection, which cuts the bike driver off.
The car and bike are waiting at a light. The car turns right when the light changes, which cut off or possibly strike the bike.

The Left Cross

This means that the car has turned left. In this accident, both the bike and car drivers draw near the intersection from opposite directions and as they enter the junction, the car driver turns left, which then makes the collision with the cyclist.


How to Reduce the Chance of Accident?

Car drivers are usually at fault. However, regardless of the fault, a cyclist can make necessary precautionary measures to lessen chances of accidents.

Here are the things to do.

  • Be always prepared to brake abruptly in the event that a car cuts off.
  • Maintain a proper lookout especially when approaching the intersection. Equip you vehicle with a mirror and always check it whenever you approach the intersection.
  • Avoid staying in a car’s blind spot while approaching from behind or while waiting at traffic lights.
  • Adjust your lane position by riding closer to the car lane or taking the whole lane as you cross the junction.
  • Do not pass a car on the right at intersections or driveways. You can either reduce speed to match the pace of the car or take the lane and pass on the left.
  • Consider crossing at the crosswalk. You can lessen your possibility of being struck in the crosswalk by walking your bike across as a pedestrian.

0 comments:

Post a Comment