Articles Posted in Bicycle Accidents

A senior citizen was injured in a Port St. Lucie bicycle accident this week, a reminder that with the return of tourists and winter residents it will be more important to watch for bicyclists, pedestrians and older motorists on the road.

The Treasure Coast Palm reported the cyclist was struck at the intersection of Cashmere Boulevard and St. Lucie West Boulevard. The crash happened Thursday about 2:30 pm., according to St. Lucie County Fire Rescue. The man was transported by medical helicopter to a local trauma center.

Florida was the most dangerous state in the nation for bicycle accidents in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A total of 125 riders were killed that year.

Nationwide, 716 cyclists were killed and 52,000 were injured. As the popularity of cycling has increased for recreation and fitness, so too has the age of those most likely to be involved in an accident.

While those ages 45 to 54 are most likely to be killed — with 180 fatal accidents in 2008 — those ages 55 to 64 suffered 112 fatal accidents. And 67 riders over retirement age were killed in bicycle accidents in 2008.

For more information on cycling safety, visit the Florida Bicycle Association.
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A 49-year-old man remains at Bayfront Medical Center with life-threatening injuries after being struck while riding his bicycle by a car that left the scene. The cyclist was riding on the street but was thrown to the sidewalk where he hit his head on a light pole base, the St. Petersburg Times reports.

In 2009, almost four percent of all traffic fatalities across the state involved Florida bicycle accidents, the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports. There were 99 bicycle accident fatalities and 4,376 cyclists were injured.

Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties were the three most dangerous counties in 2009 for cyclists, claiming 33 lives and leaving 1,292 riders injured. For the same region in 2008 there were 25 fatal bicycling accidents and 1,304 injured cyclists.

The Florida Bicycle Association offers a few simple tips that can help decrease your chances of getting in a South Florida bicycle accident:
~ Know how to ride. Just being able to start, stop and turn without falling or running into other cyclists cuts your risk of injury in half.

~ Obey traffic laws, signs and signals like all vehicles on the road are supposed to do. That includes using lanes correctly and using lights to make your ride visible when it’s dark.

~ Be conspicuous when sharing the road with four-wheeled vehicles. Telegraph your intent to fellow drivers. Communicate using eye contact and hand signals.

~ Be defensive and proactive. Stay off your cell phone and leave your headset at home. Pay attention to what is going on around you and watch for road hazards (like potholes).

~ Wear a helmet and gloves. While these may not help you avoid a crash, they can reduce the severity of your injuries.
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Florida cyclists have failed in an effort to prevent passage of a bill that requires bicyclists to use bike lanes whenever possible and to remain on the right side of the road.

Advocates for bicycling safety argued the measure will increase the risk of Palm Beach bicycle accidents and cycling accident elsewhere in South Florida, the Examiner reported.

While many motorists favor the measure — claiming that is where riders should be anyway — cyclists had urged Gov. Charlie Crist to veto the bill. They claim bike lanes, like those along A1A in Palm Beach County, are not safe and riding on the right side of the road is even more dangerous.

Florida is the most dangerous state in the nation for serious and fatal bicycle accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 716 cyclists were killed in 2008 and more than 52,000 were injured. Nearly 1 in every 5 fatalities nationwide resulted from a Florida bicycle accident. A total of 125 riders were killed in Florida that year. California, which reported 109 fatalities, was the only other state to report more than 100 deaths.

The Florida Bicycle Association vowed to regroup and fight for cycling rights during next year’s legislative session.

Palm Beach motorists had complained that cycling in the road poses a danger, especially on A1A where there are no bike lanes.

Bicycle Safe provides cyclists with tips for avoiding dangerous accident scenarios:

The Right Cross: The most common type of accident is a T-bone collision with a car crossing from the right at an intersection. Riding tips include using a headlight and horn, slowing down and riding further to the left.

The Door Prize: Ride to the left when traveling along parked cars to avoid being hit by an opening car door.

The Crosswalk Slam: Riders are often struck in crosswalks by a motorist turning onto the street. Using a headlight, slowing down and avoiding crosswalks can help reduce the chances of this type of accident.

Wrong Way Wreck: Don’t ride against traffic. Riding on the left side of the street increases your risk of an accident.

Red Light of Death: Riders are often struck at a traffic light by a car making a right turn. Avoid stopping in a vehicle’s blind spot and make sure the coast is clear before proceeding after the light turns green.

Right Hook: This type of accident frequently occurs when a driver misjudges the speed of a rider and attempts to turn right in front of a cyclist. Riding further to the left and using mirrors to watch for approaching traffic can help reduce the risk.

Left Cross: In this type of accident, a car turning left across traffic collides with a cyclist entering the intersection. Using a headlight, wearing bright clothing, slowing down, and avoiding sidewalk riding can reduce your risk.

The Rear End: Being struck from behind can occur when a rider weaves in and out of parked cars or other traffic obstructions. Using mirrors and signals can help reduce the risk.
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