Safety Crashes, and how to avoid them

1
SafetyCrashes, and how to avoid them
2
4 Layers of Safety
1. Dont cause crashes follow the Rules of the
Road
2. Deter crashes with your road position
3. Escape crashes by driving defensively
4. Survive crashes by using safety equipment
Layers of Safety concept from Fred Oswald, LCI
947
3
Most bicycle crashesdontinvolvea motorvehicle
Parkedcar4
Pedestrian1
Animal8
Solo (fall)45
Anotherbicycle17
Vehicle18
Source Kaplan, Characteristicsof the Regular
Adult Bicycle User
4
Preventing Car-Bike Crashes
CYCLIST
Misc.
Layer 1 About half are the cyclists
fault(dont do those!)For motorist-caused
types, anticipate and deter (Layer 2), or escape
(Layer 3) 90 involve turning or crossing traffic
WrongWay
Door
Overtaking
Drivewayyield
Left turnfrom right edge
Stop/signal
Drivewayrideout
Right hook(Right turnfrom behind)
Stop/signal
Oncomingleft turn
Swerve
MOTORIST
Source BikeEd Instructor Manual Based on
Effective Cycling
5
VIDEO Hazards of sidewalk cycling
Video by MassBikewww.massbike.org
6
VIDEO Hazards of sidewalk cycling
7
VIDEO Hazards of wrong-way cycling
Video by MassBikewww.massbike.org
8
VIDEO Hazards of wrong-way cycling
9
Right Hook (car overtaking)

• Stay off the sidewalk
• Avoid right-turn only lane when going straight
  (use rightmost through lane)
• Dont hug the curb(negotiate out from the curb
  before the corner)
• Stay out of motorists blind spot
• Prepare to brake hard or quick turn to the
  right, inside the cars path

MOTORIST
10
VIDEO Avoiding a right-turn cutoff

• Scenes
• Cyclist responds to cutoff with aquick turn
  emergency maneuver
• Cyclist overtakes on right (WRONG!)
• Cyclist avoids cutoff by negotiating out and
  passing on left (BEST)

Video by MassBikewww.massbike.org
11
VIDEO Avoiding a right-turn cutoff
12
Motorist turns left in front of you

• Stay off the sidewalk
• Be alert
• Dont hug the curb
• Avoid moving blind spots
• Be visible contrast by day, good lights at night
• Make eye contact
• Keep pedaling, but prepare to brake hard or
  quick turn to the right, inside the cars path
• Signal going through (arm pointing up and
  forward)

MOTORIST
13
VIDEO Avoiding a left-turn cutoff
Scenes Cyclist responds to cutoff with aquick
turn emergency maneuver

• Video by MassBike
• www.massbike.org

14
VIDEO Avoiding a left-turn cutoff
15
Motorist runs red light or stop sign

• Scan and wait forlate-arrivers before proceeding
  on green
• Watch for right on red
• Dont hug the curb
• Be visible contrast by day, good lights at night
• Be prepared to brake

MOTORIST
16
Motorist fails to yield at driveway

• Stay off the sidewalk
• Make eye contact
• Be visible contrast by day, good lights at night
• Watch front wheels for movement
• Prepare to brake hard

MOTORIST
17
Opening car door

• Keep entire bike out of door zone unless moving
  slowly enough to stop in 1 car length
• Dont weave in and out of empty parking spaces
• Be visible contrast by day, good lights at night

MOTORIST
18
VIDEO Avoiding the door zone
Video by MassBikewww.massbike.org
19
VIDEO Avoiding the door zone
20
Motorist overtaking cyclist (An infrequent crash
type in urban areas)

• Lights (including taillight) and reflectors at
  night
• Solid, brightly colored jersey on country roads
• Dont hug the curb in a narrow lane
• Dont weave in and out of empty parking spaces

MOTORIST
21
Safety on winding roads
When aroad curvesto the right around a
hill,stay visible as long as possible by
continuing out into the lane at the curve. As
soon as you are hidden, move to the right edge.
22
Layer 4 Protective Equipment
Bell Metro
Quick-adjust side strap (Bell)
Rear dial ratchetadjuster (Bell)
Bell Citi withMetro/Citi visor
Warm-weather bike gloves