You can’t beat a summer day, a bike and a cool bottle of water.
But too many bikers
leave safety plans behind. The result is about 900 bicycle-
related deaths and another
half a million injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms
every year.
Don Bower, a human development specialist with the University of
Georgia Extension
Service, urges families to talk about how to bike safely.
“The most important thing is to wear a helmet,” Bower
said. “Using bicycle helmets
properly can reduce head injuries by up to 85 percent.”
Bower said the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission suggests
these bicycle
helmet safety tips:
* Make sure your helmet meets standards. Check the label.
* Wear the helmet flat on your head, not tilted back at an
angle.
* Get a helmet that fits snugly and doesn’t block your view.
* Always wear the helmet with the chin strap firmly buckled. The
strap should fit
securely and stay fastened. No matter how hard you twist or
pull, the helmet should
stay on your head, and the strap should stay buckled and
secure.
* Don’t use a helmet after it has been involved in an accident.
It could be cracked.
Destroy the helmet, get a new one or ask the manufacturer to
inspect it to see if it
needs to be replaced.
Your safety job isn’t over once you strap the helmet on.
“See and be seen,” Bower said. “Wear bright fluorescent colors
during the day.
Flashing rear lights help drivers see you. If you must ride at
night, equip your bike
with a headlight and taillight, and wear reflective clothing.”
Remember the rules of the road. Ride with the traffic, not
against it. Be aware of
traffic around you. Obey traffic laws. Check your brakes, tires,
gears and headlight
regularly.
“Bikes can be fun and good exercise,” Bower said, “but only when
you remember your
responsibility as a safe rider.”
