BICYCLE SAFETY

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BICYCLE SAFETY

• INFORMATION AND PREVENTION

April 2009
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TRAINING OBJECTIVES

• Identify ways parents and adults can encourage
  children to wear helmets
• Identify Rules of the Road for children riding
  bicycles
• Identify Safe Riding Tips for children and be
  able to share these tips with children and
  families

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BICYCLE SAFETY

• Bike riding is a lot of fun for children.
  However, bicycle riding can also have
  consequences. Every year, close to 176,000
  children go to a hospital emergency room because
  of bike accident injuries. Some children die due
  to head injuries.
• (KidsHealth.org)

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MISSOURI BICYCLE-RELATED FATALITIES

• Of the 93 reviewed motor vehicle fatalities among
  Missouri children in 2007, two were
  bicycle-related.
• Of the two fatalities, one of the children was
  wearing a helmet.

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• A 14-year old and his grandfather were riding
  bikes on the side of the road, when a pickup ran
  into the back of them. Neither was wearing a
  helmet. Both suffered fatal injuries.
• A 17-year-old boy was riding his bicycle along a
  city street, when he was struck by a vehicle that
  was being pursued by the police. He sustained
  multi-systems trauma and died at the hospital.

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SUGGESTIONS FOR GETTING CHILDREN TO WEAR A BIKE
HELMET

• Helmets can protect children from injuries. The
  Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute gives the
  following tips to parents
• Establish the helmet habit early, when children
  get their first bikes. This habit should start
  when children get their first tricycle to
  establish a link between wheeled vehicles,
  pavement and helmets.

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• Let children pick their helmet. If children
  choose their own helmet, they may be more likely
  to buy into the idea.
• Wear a helmet yourself. Children learn from
  their parents. Whenever a parent rides their
  bike, they should put on a helmet.
• Reward and praise children for wearing helmets.

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• Talk to your children about why you want them to
  protect their heads. Let them know that their
  bikes are not toys, and they can permanently hurt
  their heads or even die from a head injury.
• Encourage your childs friends to wear helmets.

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• Give your child a short course in bicycle safety.
  Children need basic safety instructions.
• Point out when watching sports events, how many
  professional athletes use helmets. Football and
  hockey players, baseball batters and race care
  drivers all wear helmets.

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• Take your child to a bicycle race. Bicycle racers
  are required to wear helmets in the United
  States, the Tour de France and almost everywhere.
  Children will see (usually close up) cool riders
  competing in an event while using helmets.

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• Do not let children ride their bikes unless
  theyre wearing a helmet. If children are
  allowed to ride occasionally without their
  helmets, they will not believe messages about the
  importance of them.
• Plan bicycle outings together when all family
  members wear their helmets.

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RULES OF THE ROAD FOR CHILDREN

• It is important for children to also know where
  and how they can ride their bicycles. The
  following guidelines are from the National
  Highway and Traffic Safety Administration
• Go with the traffic flow. Bicyclists should ride
  on the right side of the road in the same
  direction as other vehicles.

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• Obey all traffic laws. A bicycle is a vehicle,
  and the bicyclist is the driver. It is important
  for bicyclists to obey all traffic signs, signals
  and lane markings.
• Be predictable. Bicyclists must ride in a
  straight line, not in and out of cars. Moves
  must be signaled to others.

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• Yield to traffic, when appropriate. Almost
  always, drivers on a smaller road must yield or
  wait for traffic on a major or larger road. If
  there is no stop sign or traffic signal and a
  bicyclist is coming from a driveway, sidewalk,
  bike path, etc., they must slow down and look to
  see if the way is clear before they go on. This
  includes yielding to pedestrians who have already
  entered a crosswalk.

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• Stay alert at all times. Bicyclists must watch
  out for potholes, cracks, wet leaves, storm
  grates, railroad tracks, or anything that could
  make them lose control of their bike. To ensure
  bicyclists can hear when they ride, they should
  not wear a headset.

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• Look before turning. When turning left or right,
  it is important to always look behind you for a
  break in traffic, then signal before making the
  turn. Watch for left or right-turning traffic.
• Watch for parked cars. Bicyclists should ride far
  enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected
  from parked cars (like doors opening or cars
  pulling out).

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• The safest place for bicycle riding is on the
  street. Children less than 10 years old are not
  mature enough to make decisions necessary to
  safely ride in the street.
• Children less than 10 years old are better off
  riding on the sidewalk.

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SAFE RIDING TIPS FOR CHILDREN

• It is important for children to abide by safe
  riding tips. The following guidelines are from
  the National Highway and Traffic Safety
  Administration
• Wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet.
• Check your bicycle equipment. Before riding
  make sure tires are inflated properly and that
  the brakes work.

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• Adjust your bicycle to fit. Stand over your
  bicycle. There should be 1 to 2 inches between
  you and the top tube (bar), if using a road bike
  and 3 to 4 inches, if it is a mountain bicycle.
  The seat should be level from front to back. The
  seat height should be adjusted to allow a slight
  bend at the knee, when the leg is fully extended.
  The handlebar height should be at the same level
  with the seat.

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• Control your bicycle. Always ride with at least
  one hand on the handlebars. Carry books and other
  items in a bicycle carrier or backpack.
• See and be seen. Always wear fluorescent, neon or
  other bright colors when riding day or night.
  Wear something that reflects light, such as
  reflective tape or markings, or flashing lights.
  Remember, just because you can see a driver
  doesnt mean they can see you.

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• Avoid riding at night. It is more dangerous for
  children to ride bikes at night than during the
  day. Do make sure there are reflectors on the
  front and rear of the bicycle, in addition to
  reflectors on tires. Many states require
  bicycles to have white lights on the front and
  red rear reflectors.

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• The Academy of Pediatrics suggests these Rules
  of the Road
• When turning or stopping, always use hand
  signals.
• Look both ways at street corners and driveways.
• Always ride with the traffic, to the right.

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• Always stop at STOP signs and the curb.
• When you ride on the sidewalk watch out for
  people.
• Riders must always wear their helmet.

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For More Information

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
  www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/Kids
  andBikeSafetyWeb/
• Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute,
  www.bhsi.org/kidswear.htm
• American Academy of Pediatrics,
  www.aap.org/family/bicycle.htm
• KidsHealth, www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch/out/bike_
  safety.html

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Missouri Department of Social Services State
Technical Assistance Team

• Address
• PO Box 208Jefferson City, MO 65102-0208
• Telephone [phone](800) 487-1626(8 a.m.
  to 5 p.m. CST, Monday Friday)
• Email
•  dls.stat_at_dss.mo.gov