BICYCLE SAFETY INFORMATION AND PREVENTION April 2009

TRAINING OBJECTIVES Identify ways parents and adults can encourage children to wear helmets Identify Rules of the Road for children riding bicycles Identify Safe Riding Tips for children and be able to share these tips with children and families

BICYCLE SAFETY Bike riding is a lot of fun for children. However, bicycle riding can also have consequences. Every year, close to 176,000 children go to a hospital emergency room because of bike accident injuries. Some children die due to head injuries. (KidsHealth.org)

MISSOURI BICYCLE-RELATED FATALITIES Of the 93 reviewed motor vehicle fatalities among Missouri children in 2007, two were bicycle-related. Of the two fatalities, one of the children was wearing a helmet.

A 14-year old and his grandfather were riding bikes on the side of the road, when a pickup ran into the back of them. Neither was wearing a helmet. Both suffered fatal injuries. A 17-year-old boy was riding his bicycle along a city street, when he was struck by a vehicle that was being pursued by the police. He sustained multi-systems trauma and died at the hospital.

SUGGESTIONS FOR GETTING CHILDREN TO WEAR A BIKE HELMET Helmets can protect children from injuries. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute gives the following tips to parents:  Establish the helmet habit early, when children get their first bikes. This habit should start when children get their first tricycle to establish a link between wheeled vehicles, pavement and helmets.

 Let children pick their helmet. If children choose their own helmet, they may be more likely to buy into the idea.  Wear a helmet yourself. Children learn from their parents. Whenever a parent rides their bike, they should put on a helmet.  Reward and praise children for wearing helmets.

 Talk to your children about why you want them to protect their heads. Let them know that their bikes are not toys, and they can permanently hurt their heads or even die from a head injury.  Encourage your child’s friends to wear helmets.

 Give your child a short course in bicycle safety. Children need basic safety instructions.  Point out when watching sports events, how many professional athletes use helmets. Football and hockey players, baseball batters and race care drivers all wear helmets.

 Take your child to a bicycle race. Bicycle racers are required to wear helmets in the United States, the Tour de France and almost everywhere. Children will see (usually close up) cool riders competing in an event while using helmets.

 Do not let children ride their bikes unless they’re wearing a helmet. If children are allowed to ride occasionally without their helmets, they will not believe messages about the importance of them.  Plan bicycle outings together when all family members wear their helmets.

RULES OF THE ROAD FOR CHILDREN It is important for children to also know where and how they can ride their bicycles. The following guidelines are from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration:  Go with the traffic flow. Bicyclists should ride on the right side of the road in the same direction as other vehicles.

 Obey all traffic laws. A bicycle is a vehicle, and the bicyclist is the driver. It is important for bicyclists to obey all traffic signs, signals and lane markings.  Be predictable. Bicyclists must ride in a straight line, not in and out of cars. Moves must be signaled to others.

 Yield to traffic, when appropriate. Almost always, drivers on a smaller road must yield or wait for traffic on a major or larger road. If there is no stop sign or traffic signal and a bicyclist is coming from a driveway, sidewalk, bike path, etc., they must slow down and look to see if the way is clear before they go on. This includes yielding to pedestrians who have already entered a crosswalk.

 Stay alert at all times. Bicyclists must watch out for potholes, cracks, wet leaves, storm grates, railroad tracks, or anything that could make them lose control of their bike. To ensure bicyclists can hear when they ride, they should not wear a headset.

 Look before turning. When turning left or right, it is important to always look behind you for a break in traffic, then signal before making the turn. Watch for left or right-turning traffic.  Watch for parked cars. Bicyclists should ride far enough out from the curb to avoid the unexpected from parked cars (like doors opening or cars pulling out).

 The safest place for bicycle riding is on the street. Children less than 10 years old are not mature enough to make decisions necessary to safely ride in the street.  Children less than 10 years old are better off riding on the sidewalk.

SAFE RIDING TIPS FOR CHILDREN It is important for children to abide by safe riding tips. The following guidelines are from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration: Wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet. Check your bicycle equipment. Before riding make sure tires are inflated properly and that the brakes work.

 Adjust your bicycle to fit. Stand over your bicycle. There should be 1 to 2 inches between you and the top tube (bar), if using a road bike and 3 to 4 inches, if it is a mountain bicycle. The seat should be level from front to back. The seat height should be adjusted to allow a slight bend at the knee, when the leg is fully extended. The handlebar height should be at the same level with the seat.

 Control your bicycle. Always ride with at least one hand on the handlebars. Carry books and other items in a bicycle carrier or backpack.  See and be seen. Always wear fluorescent, neon or other bright colors when riding day or night. Wear something that reflects light, such as reflective tape or markings, or flashing lights. Remember, just because you can see a driver doesn’t mean they can see you.

 Avoid riding at night. It is more dangerous for children to ride bikes at night than during the day. Do make sure there are reflectors on the front and rear of the bicycle, in addition to reflectors on tires. Many states require bicycles to have white lights on the front and red rear reflectors.

The Academy of Pediatrics suggests these “Rules of the Road”:  When turning or stopping, always use hand signals.  Look both ways at street corners and driveways.  Always ride with the traffic, to the right.

 Always stop at STOP signs and the curb.  When you ride on the sidewalk watch out for people.  Riders must always wear their helmet.

For More Information National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, /KidsandBikeSafetyWeb/ /KidsandBikeSafetyWeb/ Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, American Academy of Pediatrics, KidsHealth, tml tml

Missouri Department of Social Services State Technical Assistance Team Address: PO Box 208 Jefferson City, MO Telephone: (573) (800) (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST, Monday – Friday)