It is no secret that cyclists have little protection to shield them from suffering severe harm during a major collision. Even so, many cyclists venture onto our Colorado streets without being fully aware of some of the potential dangers that may await them on their journeys.
As a cyclist, you might be wondering about the risks you could face so that you can find ways to prepare for each in turn. While this list may be long and imposing, certain types of safety threats for cyclists tend to be more common than others, and addressing them could be key to safeguarding your health.
Safety concerns
When it comes to preparing to ride your bike in traffic, you may find that spotting a possible hazard in advance could be essential to avoid a possible disaster. Some of the most common ways drivers could place nearby cyclists at risk could include:
- Driver inattention: Distracted driving continues to be a major issue, and those who fail to focus on the road while driving run a greater risk of leaving you facing a hazardous circumstance.
- Lack of knowledge: Those who do not receive proper training or instruction on how to share the road with cyclists.
- Driver aggression: Drivers who feel cyclists merely impede their passage may use aggressive tactics to intimidate them and force them to make sudden shifts in direction, which can be exceedingly dangerous.
- Driver awareness: Visibility remains an issue for cyclists, and drivers who fail to maintain awareness of nearby riders could turn into their path or shift into their lanes with no knowledge of their presence.
Certain areas, such as intersections, may also be hotspots for bicycle-related collisions, and, as such, it could prove exceedingly helpful to approach these areas with caution.
The possible outcome of a crash
Even with a clear understanding of the possible threats to your safety, being prepared to avoid every hazard could prove difficult. Unfortunately, for a cyclist, an accident that might otherwise prove minor in other circumstances could pose a significant threat to your health. In addition to taking steps to prepare for the open road, it may also be in your best interest to understand your available options should the actions of another party leave you with severe or permanent injuries.