Calimesa, Calif. — May is National Bicycle Safety Month, and Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging everyone to get active and safely take bike rides while at the same time reminding drivers to be on the lookout for more people biking and walking.
“Everyone deserves to reach their destination safely,” Deputy Michael Hinkle said. “Unfortunately, there has been an increase in bicycle fatalities and injuries over the last few years. Bicyclists do not have the same protections as people in a vehicle, so if you see a bicyclist — slow down.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1,105 people killed while riding a bike in 2022, and an estimated 46,195 bicyclists were injured. In 2021, 976 bicyclists were killed (a 1.9% increase from 2020) and an estimated 41,615 bicyclists were injured (a 7% increase from 2020).
Riverside County Sheriff’s Office suggests the following safety tips for bicyclists and drivers:
Drivers:
– Be aware of your surroundings, check blind spots, and use caution when turning.
– Give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing.
– Avoid distractions such as texting or talking on the phone while driving.
Bike Riders:
– Always wear a properly fitted helmet.
– Use hand signals to indicate your intentions when turning.
– Obey traffic laws and signals.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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