An accident, by definition, is not a deliberate act. This is true about motor vehicle accidents and it is also true about motorcycle and bicycle accidents. The causes of bicycle accidents include carelessness, distraction, recklessness and over speeding. Below are some of the most common causes of these types of bicycle accidents.
Distracted Driving
When you are riding a bicycle, common sense should make it clear to you that you should concentrate on what you are doing. Unlike automobiles, your bicycle does not have a metal body to take the impact of a crash. Unlike a motor cycle, your bicycle does not have an engine to execute a quick get away in a tricky situation. Your bicycle has just two tires and you move by pedaling it manually. It follows that when you are riding a bicycle, you need to concentrate 100% on the job at hand. Distracted driving (or distracted riding in this case) is a leading cause of bicycle accidents. While you are riding your bicycle, you have no reason to make calls, receive calls, send or read text messages. If you do any of these things while you are riding your bike, an accident might result and it will be your fault.
Over Speeding
Over speeding is bad news when you drive or ride on the highways. If you speed too much, the danger here is that it increases your stopping time. It also reduces the amount of time you need to make a decision in case the unexpected happens. For motorists and motor cycle riders, over speeding can have serious consequences especially if the car or motor bike in question hits a bicycle rider. Even for the bicycle rider, excessive speeding on your bicycle can lead to accidents because it makes it difficult for you to control the bicycle effectively.
Fatigue
Driving a motor vehicle requires mental alertness and a high level of concentration. The same thing applies to riding a bicycle. It follows that if you are weak or tired, you have no reason to ride your bicycle. Driver fatigue can lead to accidents because when you are tired, your judgment is poor and your reflexes are slow. This means an accident is more likely to happen due to fatigue.
Running A Red Light or Stop Sign
The traffic rules are very clear on this one. When the light is red, you stop and when it is green, you move. In addition, you should always stop at a stop sign and slow down when you approach a zebra crossing. If all road users obey these simple rules, accidents will be minimized considerably. Unfortunately, some people run red lights and this leads to both bicycle accidents and motor vehicle accidents.
Weaving through Traffic
Another leading cause of bicycle accidents is weaving through traffic. Many bicycle riders and motor cyclists are guilty of this especially in cases where there is a bit of traffic. The danger here is that when you weave through traffic, you increase the risk of accident because you may not see oncoming vehicles clearly.
Final Word
You have no reason to risk your life when you drive a car or ride a bicycle. Obey traffic rules, drive and ride carefully and you will stay alive.
