Did you know that over 85% of all serious head injuries from bike falls could have been prevented by wearing a helmet? For children under 18, wearing a helmet is the law in 8 provinces in Canada! Some adults may disregard this important safety habit, but children look to adults to set an example – and adult heads can also be injured.
Helmets work by absorbing the energy of an impact so that less force is transferred to the head. They have special plastic foam inside the helmet that accomplishes this. Never wear a helmet that has been in an accident; the foam has already been crushed and won't work as well the next time. And, even without accidents, they don't last forever – look for the manufacturer's recommendations on when to replace your helmet.
When purchasing a helmet, make sure that it fits your head – check that it touches all parts of your head but is not too snug. The side straps should be adjusted so that a V forms with the straps resting underneath each ear. Only 1 finger should be able to fit between the strap and your chin. The helmet should cover the forehead and rest about 2 fingers' width above the eyebrows.
Check for the CSA symbol, which means your helmet has been tested and passes the standard for safety and performance as set by the Canadian Standards Association. Other helmet certifications include the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Snell, and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
A helmet can also help you avoid accidents by making you more visible. You should purchase a helmet in a light colour that can be seen by motorists, and if you ride at night, wear one with a reflective strip.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Bike-Safety
When you get on your bicycle and get on the road, you are then officially classified as driving a vehicle. As such, you need to know and obey the same rules as other vehicles. This is for your own safety, because if you behave like a car driver would behave, your actions are more predictable.
If you don't drive, then the first thing you need to do is get a copy of the rules for drivers of vehicles. These can be found at your province's Ministry of Transportation offices or on their websites. As well, check your local and provincial rules on bicycles by contacting your local municipality, police department, or provincial website.
Drivers can't avoid you if they can't see you. Make yourself visible to everyone on the road: wear bright clothing, and if you're biking during twilight hours or at night, put lights on your bicycle – both in front and in the back.
You also need to be aware of the traffic all around you – you have to avoid it as much as it has to avoid you. Make sure you're aware of everything behind and to the sides as well as ahead. And don't wear headphones, as you may not be able to hear a horn or oncoming car.
As a vehicle driver, you have a responsibility to stick to the rules of the road. You need to drive in the same direction as the traffic in that lane, so although you might think that it will make people see you better, never ride your bike into oncoming traffic. If you come to an intersection that has a left- or right-turn lane, don't get into one of those lanes and then go straight through the intersection – you will disrupt traffic and are more likely to get injured, as drivers will assume that you are turning at the intersection.
So why not just ride on the sidewalk? Because it's not safe – and may not even be legal. Sidewalks are for pedestrians, who often move in ways that can make it hard for a bicyclist to avoid a collision – for example, coming out of a doorway or around a corner, stopping suddenly, or moving in large, slow groups. Some cities limit riding on the sidewalk to children under a certain age, on certain roads, or to bikes with tires under a certain size. And cycling on the sidewalk is not a good way of avoiding collisions with cars – in fact, it's a factor in many bike-car collisions: cars can cross the sidewalk unexpectedly when coming into or out of driveways or laneways, and cyclists are not always visible when they have to come onto a street from the sidewalk.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Bike-Safety
No one wants to deny children the fun and freedom that cycling can provide. Probably some of our best childhood memories include riding our bikes to far-away places (well, at least we thought they were far away). Start children out with the proper training, because the roads of today can be a lot different from when many of us were kids. There is more traffic on the road and more distractions than ever.
When children first learn to ride, they should start by riding in places where there are few cars, such as a city park. When they are more familiar with the bike, they should ride on the sidewalks, as long as they are told to stop before driveways. (Check the local laws regarding who is allowed to bike on the sidewalks, and under what conditions, in your community.)
Once the decision is made for them to ride on the road, they should be taught what traffic signs mean and trained to obey the rules of the road.Some of the special rules for bike riders include:
- When leaving the driveway, look both ways for oncoming traffic, including scooters, skateboarders, and other cyclists.
- Ride on the right side of the road.
- Take care when passing parked cars – someone could open the door suddenly.
- Use hand signals to signal when turning.
Kids should never ride their bikes in heavy traffic – inexperience could lead to tragic results.
Teach children to look over their shoulder and signal before turning, and never to ride their bike across crosswalks or when crossing at traffic lights. And tell them to keep an eye on the road ahead so that they can avoid potential obstacles such as wet leaves, storm grates and gravel that could make them lose their stability and fall off the bike.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Bike-Safety
How's your bike safety knowledge? Test yourself with this quick quiz.
- I should ride on the side of the road facing traffic, so that I can see the traffic coming. True or false?
- It is the law that every bicycle rider must wear a helmet. True or false?
- Once you're on your bike on a street, you must behave like any other vehicle. True or false?
- Most bicycle injuries involve motor vehicles. True or false?
Answers:
- False. You must ride in the same direction as the cars do.
- False. In 8 provinces in Canada, it is mandatory for children under the age of 18 to wear a helmet. The other provinces do not legally require bicycle helmets.
- True. Bicycles are considered vehicles and therefore must follow the rules of the road.
- False, but according to Statistics Canada, most deaths from bicycle accidents involve motor vehicles.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Bike-Safety
