June 17, 2013 | By Greene Broillet & Wheeler
On Saturday, a driver struck and killed a bicyclist near Caltech in Pasadena. Authorities are investigating the accident to determine its cause, though no arrests have been made.
Negligent and distracted drivers cause the majority of accidents between bicycles and cars, and there are many bicycle accidents that bicyclists simply cannot prevent. Even so, bicyclists can also cause accidents by biking on the wrong side of the road, riding directly into the path of a car, weaving out of bike lanes or into the street, making unsafe turns or riding at night without headlights/reflectors. What can you do to reduce the risk of a bicycle accident?
Here are some bicycle safety tips provided by the California Highway Patrol:
These are only a few of many safety tips bicyclists should follow. Above all else, remember that car drivers may not be watching out for you. Some of the safest cyclists bike as though they are invisible. By thinking that cars cannot see you, you are less likely to put yourself in the dangerous path of a distracted driver who won’t see you.