Kids Watch Project

Bicycle Safety:

Aug 22, 2006

Bicycling is one of the most popular forms of recreational activity in the United States. Young children spend a lot of time riding their bicycles, both for fun and for transportation to their schools.

The importance of bicycle safety cannot be underestimated. In Alabama, 58 children under the age of 14 were killed and 2,342 were injured in bike-related crashes during 1986-95. Most of the bike-related deaths are the result of head injuries. Wearing a helmet decreases the risk of brain injury from a bicycle crash as much as 88% and risk of injury to face by 65%.

Bicycle Safety Tips:

1. Wear a bike helmet:

Never ride without a helmet. It should be snug and cover the forehead. Choose one that meets safety standards of the American National Standards Institute or the Snell Memorial Foundation

2. Be Visible

Wear neon, fluorescent or bright-colored clothing, Equip your bicycle with reflectors on the front and rear. Avoid riding at night.

3. Obey Traffic Laws

Never ride out into a street without stopping first. Stop, look left, look right, look left again. Ride with the traffic on the right side
Obey Stop Signs
Check behind you before swerving, turning or changing lanes
Stop at all intersections
Walk bikes through busy intersections
Use Hand Signals (left, right, stop)
4. Stay Alert

Watch for things in your path like potholes, cracks, drainage grates. Be extra careful in wet weather. Always check for traffic.

5. Check Your Brakes

Brakes are the most important part of the bicycle. Control your speed by using your brakes, apply rear brakes slightly before the front hand brakes. In wet weather, ride slowly and apply brakes earlier.

Public Health Statistics

31% of bicycle-related deaths occur in those younger than 16
2/3 of those injured are children or teens
Only about 25% of children 4-15 years old wear a helmet; teen usage is nearly zero.
If everyone wore a helmet 500 fatalities and 151,000 non-fatal head injuries could be avoided annually
Societal costs related to bicycle head injuries or death exceed $8 billion.
Bicycle Safety Brochure

Injury Prevention Plan: Bicycle Safety Section

Related Websites/Resources:

National SAFE KIDS
www.safekids.org

Alabama SAFE KIDS