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The Five Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents (From a City of Toronto Study)

The Five Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents (From a City of Toronto Study)

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1. Motorist turning right collides with cyclist travelling in parallel direction

Key problems:

 motorist overtakes cyclist just before turning right, cyclist tries to pass to the right of right turning motorist, or cyclist riding on the sidewalk fails to stop and yield to turning vehicles at intersection

To avoid:
 look ahead for turn signals, watch out for drivers slowing down in preparation for a right turn, stay away from the driver’s “blind spot” (near the right rear wheel), do not pass right turning drivers on the right, and use the road, not the sidewalk, to be more noticeable to motorists

2. Vehicle occupant opens door in cyclist’s path; cyclist collides with door. This occurs almost exclusively on central arterial roads.

Key problems:

 motorist does not look before opening door

To avoid:
 when passing parked vehicles, ride at least one metre away, shoulder-check and signal if you have to move further left, look for people in parked vehicles; be prepared to stop suddenly, and slow down in areas with high-turnover parking (main streets, restaurant & retail areas)

3. Motorist turning left collides with cyclist approaching from opposite direction

Key problems:

 driver does not detect cyclist in time to avoid collision or darkness/obstructed sight-lines (most common on downtown streets, less frequent in suburbs)

To avoid:
 be visible: wear bright clothing; use a headlight at night; ride in a predictable position, look ahead for left-turning vehicles, and be prepared to stop suddenly if you cannot make eye contact with an on-coming driver, or if it seems the driver has not noticed you (e.g., the vehicle does not appear to be slowing down)

4. Motorist overtaking cyclist, collides with cyclist. This is more common on downtown streets than in the suburbs.

Key problems:

 motorist misjudges passing space

To avoid:
 position yourself so that you are clearly visible to motorists approaching from behind, ride in a straight line (don’t weave towards the curb between parked cars), if there is not enough space to share the lane safely with another vehicle, it is legal to ride near the centre of the lane, so that drivers must wait or change lanes to overtake, always shoulder-check before changing your line of travel, and be visible: wear bright clothing, use reflectors and a rear light at night

5. Motorist emerges from driveway or lane, collides with cyclist crossing their path. This kind of collision generally happens as a result of cyclists riding on the sidewalk, and is more common in the suburbs.

Key problems:

 motorist does not stop before crossing sidewalk or cyclist riding too fast on sidewalk

To avoid:
 ride on the road, not the sidewalk where motorists don’t expect bicycles, ride farther from the curb, to be more noticeable to motorists, use a headlight at night, and be extra-cautious around busy parking lot entrances

By understanding and anticipating the traffic dynamics, accidents can be avoided.

Posted on February 6, 2018 Categories: Uncategorised
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