May Is a Good Time to Review Bicycle Safety with Your Children

With summer vacation almost upon us, many school-age children are looking forward to spending long summer days outside playing with friends and soaking up the sun. For many children in the area, riding a bike is a daily activity. It functions as a way to get from place to place and as a fun activity. Unfortunately, doing so exposes them to a risk of serious injury, particularly if they ride in areas where they may be sharing the road with motor vehicles such as cars, trucks, or motorcycles.

As a parent, there are certain steps you can take to keep your children safe while riding their bikes this summer. Here are a few suggestions offered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

• Make sure your child wears a properly fitted helmet.
• Check the condition of your child’s bicycle regularly, including the tires and the brakes.
• Provide your child with a properly fitted bicycle – do not buy one he or she will “grow into” or wait to purchase one until he or she stops growing.
• Make sure that your child wears clothing that is visible to motorists.
• Teach your child to always ride with at least one hand on the handlebars.
• Make sure your child understands how to recognize and avoid road hazards.
• Avoid allowing your child to ride at night.

Many parents wonder whether they should teach their children to ride on the street or on the sidewalk. According to NHTSA, the safest place to ride is on the street, but young children should stay on the sidewalk due to their maturity level. There are specific safety tips for sidewalk riding, which include:

• Make sure riding on the sidewalk is legal in your area.
• Look out for vehicles leaving or turning into driveways.
• Stop at corners and streets.
• Always enter the street at a corner and not from between parked cars, and let pedestrians know you are nearby, either verbally or by using a bell or horn.

Call a St. Louis Bicycle Accident Attorney Today to Discuss Your Case

If you or your child is injured in a bicycle accident, you should retain an attorney. An experienced bicycle accident lawyer will ensure your legal rights are protected and that you maximize your injury settlement or award available by law. To schedule a free case evaluation with one of our attorneys, call Page Law today at 314-322-8515 or contact us online.