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Morristown
– Division of Highway Traffic Safety
Director Pam Fischer today stressed the
importance of bicycle safety on New Jersey
roads, noting that 11 lives have already
been lost in bike-related crashes in the
State this year, while a total of 12 bike
fatalities occurred in 2007.
“We’ve
seen nearly as many bike fatalities already
this year as we did for all of 2007,”
Fischer said. “Clearly, as more people
opt to use bikes as cost-effective transportation
for day-to-day activities, we must make
sure riders understand not only how to safely
operate a bike, but how to share the road
with motorists.”
Under New Jersey law, a bike is considered
a vehicle, and riders must obey the same
laws as motorists when on the roadways,
including traveling with traffic and obeying
all traffic signals and signs. In addition,
bicycles should be properly maintained,
and the correct safety gear, including helmets,
should be used.
Fischer
was joined at the event by representatives
from TransOptions, a non-profit transportation
management association that provides commuter
options for people traveling in northwestern
New Jersey. Active for 22 years, the organization
is a business-government partnership that
encourages commuters and residents to use
alternative modes of transportation to reduce
traffic congestion and improve air quality.
"We
at TransOptions promote bicycling to work
as an alternative way for people to commute
and save gas, improve air quality and get
some health benefits. But it is equally
important that bicycling is done safely
for the protection of the cyclist and vehicle
drivers. We must educate all about the rules
of the road,” said John F. Ciaffone,
President, TransOptions.
To
avoid serious injuries while bike riding,
the Division of Highway Traffic Safety offers
the following safety tips:
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Never ride a bike without a helmet. The
law requires anyone under the age of 17
to wear a properly fitted and fastened
helmet, but all riders are strongly encouraged
to use one. Head injuries, the most common
cause of death among cyclists, can be
reduced 85 percent by wearing a helmet.
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Wear bright clothing.
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Make sure your bike has reflectors. If
you plan to ride at night, install a white
light on the front and a red light on
the rear of the bike.
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New Jersey law requires all bikes to have
a horn or a bell. This safety equipment
can help alert both motorists and pedestrians
to your presence on the roadway.
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Ride single file with the flow of traffic
on the right side of the road.
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Use proper turning and stopping hand signals.
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When approaching an intersection, proceed
with caution, looking left, right and
left again. Walk the bike across the intersection.
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Make sure the bike is regularly maintained
and all equipment is working. Tires should
be properly inflated, and wheels straight
and secure.
Additional information on bicycle safety,
as well as related traffic safety initiatives,
is available on the Division’s web
site, at www.njsaferoads.com.
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