Department of Public Safety: Traffic Safety Task Force

Bicycle Safety Program Information

• A BICYCLE IS NOT A TOY. IT'S A VEHICLE
  Each year, bicyclists are killed or injured in New Jersey because of bicycle crashes. Many bicycle deaths result from bicycle-motor vehicle collisions. However, injuries can happen anywhere, including parks, bike paths and driveways, and often do not involve motor vehicles. Head injury is the most serious injury type and the most common cause of death among bicyclists. The most severe injuries are those to the brain that cause permanent damage.
  
  
• WEAR A HELMET – IT'S THE LAW
  Never ride a bicycle without a helmet. New Jersey law states that anyone under the age of fourteen riding a bike, even as a passenger, must be wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of the Snell Memorial Foundation, the American Society of Testing and Materials, or the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Bicycle helmets should be used by everyone who rides, as helmets have been show to reduce head injuries by 85 percent.
  
  
• BICYCLES SHOULD BE SEEN AND HEARD
  Wear clothes that make you more visible. Wearing neon, fluorescent, or other bright colors when riding a bike helps people to see you. New Jersey law requires that all bicycles be equipped with a horn or bell. Use this equipment to alert drivers and pedestrians of your presence.
  
  
• AVOID BIKING AT NIGHT
  It is far more dangerous to bicycle at night than during the daylight. New Jersey law requires that bicycles be equipped with a white light on the front and a red light on the rear when in use during nighttime hours.

• GO WITH THE FLOW. RIDE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, WITH TRAFFIC
  Always ride on the right side of the road, with traffic. Ride single file in a straight, predictable path. Riding against traffic puts you where motorists don't expect you.

• OBEY ALL TRAFFIC LAWS, SIGNS, AND SIGNALS
  Bicycles are considered vehicles. Bicyclists must obey the same rules as motorists. Always signal your moves. Be courteous to pedestrians and other vehicle operators.

• USE CAUTION AT INTERSECTIONS
  More than 70 percent of the car-bicycle crashes occur at driveway or other intersections. Before you enter any street or intersection, check for traffic. Always look left, right, and left again, and walk your bicycle into the street to begin your ride.

• MAKE SURE YOUR BICYCLE IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND ADJUSTED PROPERLY
  Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Check to see if all parts are secure and working well. The handlebars should be firmly in place and turn easily. Your wheels must be straight and secure. Always check the brakes before riding. Ride slowly in wet weather and apply your brakes earlier–it takes more distance to stop.

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