Summer is the time for people to start enjoying their favorite outdoor activities in Connecticut. If you are a cycling enthusiast, you have probably already tuned up your bicycle and gotten out onto the roads a few times this year.
However, your bike isn’t the only thing that needs a summer tune-up. You should also take time to refresh yourself on the best safety measures to help protect you and your loved ones on the road.
Always follow Connecticut cycling laws
Sharing the road with bigger vehicles is a major source of risk for those who enjoy biking. People driving enclosed motor vehicles are often blissfully unaware of the proximity of other people to their vehicle. The larger the vehicle, the more confident someone may be with ignoring their surroundings as they drive.
When you follow traffic laws, you decrease the likelihood of getting into an accident and getting hurt. Following bicycle road laws in Connecticut won’t always prevent an accident, but if a crash does happen, it will protect you from any legal responsibility for the accident.
Check your protective gear and replace it if necessary
The foam in your bicycle helmet may compact over time and become less effective at cradling your skull. Your hairstyle changes could also mean that your helmet no longer fits properly. Even the reflective patches on your cycling clothing can crack or dim over time.
You should carefully inspect your safety equipment to make sure it is in usable condition. If you aren’t certain, it is almost always better to err on the side of caution than go out on the road with inadequate safety equipment.
Try to make yourself more visible, especially at night
One of the many excuses that people in motor vehicles give after they cause a crash with a bicycle is that they didn’t see the bike. Although there’s nothing you can do to keep people from distracting themselves as they drive, you can at least make yourself more visible on the road.
Reflective surfaces and lights are great ways to improve your overall visibility. Putting lights on the front and back of your bike, as well as on your helmet or riding gear, can help you to be as visible as possible to other people on the road. Bright colors may also improve your overall visibility.
However, even if you take every precaution, it is still possible for someone driving irresponsibly to cause a crash that will impact your life for many years to come. Thankfully, you will have the option of pursuing compensation from the driver who causes a bicycle accident to recover your medical expenses and other financial consequences.
