10 Common Crashes and How to Avoid them

Top 10 Collisions & How to Avoid Them

The following material examines the 10 common bicycle-car collision types and discusses how cyclists and drivers can avoid them.

Wrong Way Wallop

You're riding against traffic when a car turns into you from a side street or driveway.

How bikes can avoid this collision:

1. Ride with traffic flow on right side. It's the law.

Cars have no reason to expect your bike to be coming at them from the wrong direction. Note that in such a scenario, drivers have less time to take evasive action since you are both traveling toward each other. And if you are hit, it will be more serious because your velocities are combined.

Right Cross

A car pulls out of a side street, parking lot, or driveway on the right and hits you. Or if you are going fast, you slam into it.

How bikes can avoid this collision:

Get a headlight. If you're riding at night, you should absolutely use a front headlight. It's required by law.

Slow down. If you can't make eye contact with the driver, slow down so that you're able to stop completely, especially at night.

Move slightly left. When the motorist in the diagram is driving, he's probably not looking in the bike lane close to the curb. Position yourself to be seen (such as green figure in the diagram).

Your actual lane position may depend on how wide the street is, traffic congestion and speed, and how far you are from the next intersection. On fast roadways with few cross streets, you'll ride farther to the right, and on slow roads with many cross streets, you may be safer riding farther to the left.

Door Prize

A driver opens a door into you or your path.

How bikes can avoid this collision:

Ride to the left. Give enough space so that you won't run into opened doors. You may be concerned that cars can't pass you easily, and you should weigh this concern against the probability of being "doored" by a parked car if you ride too close to it.

Slow down. If you are passing a row of parked cars you should be wary of door being opened. Slow down so that you can stop quickly.

Scan ahead. Look for people inside parked vehicles. Exercise caution if someone is present.

Right Squeeze

You stop beside a car at traffic signal. They don't see you. When the light turns green, you move forward, and they turn right into you.

How bikes can this avoid collision:

1. Don't stop in the blind spot. Instead, stop slightly ahead of the next car so that both drivers can see you (position B). When the light turns green, be prepared to go first--since you are in their way.

2. Stop behind the car in the car lane (position A), instead of squeezing beside it.

3. Stop behind the car--not in the blind spot-- and ahead of the next car so that they can both see you (position B). When the light turns green, be prepared to go before the second car. Don't pass the car in front of you -- stay behind it.

Always be prepared at intersections for cars turning right without signaling.

Passing Right Hook

A car passes you and then turns right in front of you, or right into you. Drivers perceive bicycles as slow moving and often misjudge that they can pass you safely.

How bikes can avoid this collision:

1. Don't ride on the sidewalk. Drivers do not expect anything moving faster than walking speed in the crosswalks.

2. Ride to the left. Taking up a lane makes it harder and less tempting for drivers to pass and cut you off.

3. Glance in your mirror before approaching an intersection. Look in your mirror before you get to the intersection, and pay attention to what's beside and in front of you as you proceed.

Right Hook -- Your Fault

You're passing a slow-moving car on its right side, when it unexpectedly turns right into you.

How bikes can avoid this collision:

1. Don't pass on the right. If the car ahead is going slowly, assume that it may be planning to turn, even if it doesn't have its blinker on. If it doesn't turn or speed up soon, pass on the left when it's safe to do so.

2. Signal and glance behind you before turning right. Don't make the same mistake a driver might make. Let others know your right turn intentions by making you signals clear.

3. Signal to pass on the left. When passing cars, signal that you intend to do so -- but be alert in case they are not watching their mirrors.

Left Cross

A car coming towards you makes a left turn into your path .

How bikes can avoid this collision:

1. Don't ride on the sidewalk. When you ride on the sidewalk, you put yourself where cars are not looking for you.

2. Get a headlight. If you're riding at night, you should absolutely use a headlight. It's required by law.

3. Wear bright colors, even during the day. Bikes are small (in road terms) and can be hard to see during the day. Yellow or orange reflective vests really make a big difference.

4. Slow down. If you can't make eye contact with the driver, be prepared to slow down or stop.

Left Rear End

You veer left to avoid road obstruction or parked car and get hit from behind.

How bikes can avoid this collision:

1. Never move left without checking. Since motorists sometimes pass within inches of cyclists, moving even slightly to the left can be dangerous. Always glance in your mirror or over your shoulder first.

2. Don't meander in and out of the parking lanes. It can be tempting to occasionally pedal in the parking lane then swerve back into the traffic lane to pass a parked car. This raises your risk of getting hit from behind. Ride in a steady path in the traffic lane.

3. Use a handlebar mirror. If you don't have a mirror, go to a bike shop and get one.

The Big Rear End

A car runs into you from behind. Many cyclists fear this most, but it is not a frequent type of accident.

How bikes can avoid this collision:

1. Get a rear light or reflector and mirror. If you're riding at night, you should use a flashing red rear light or reflector. A mirror will allow you to take evasive action if a car approaches recklessly from behind.

2. Choose wide, slow streets. Ride on streets that can easily fit a car and a bike side by side. That way a car may zoom by you and avoid hitting you, even if they didn't see you! Also, remember, the slower a car is going, the more time the driver has to see you.

3. Use back streets on weekends. The risk of injury on weekend nights is greater because of drivers under the influence of alcohol. If you ride on a weekend nights, be extra cautious.

Ride-a-Crosswalk Slam

You're riding on the sidewalk and cross the street at a crosswalk, and a car turns right into you. Cars aren't expecting bikes in the crosswalk, so you need to prevent this one.

How bikes can avoid this collision:

1. Don't ride in crosswalks . Crosswalks are for walking. If you ride in crosswalk on the left-hand side of the street, you risk getting slammed head on. If you do it on the right-hand side, you risk getting right hooked by a car passing from behind.

2. Slow down. Slow down in crosswalks so that you can completely stop if necessary.

3. Get a headlight. If you're riding at night, you should absolutely use a front headlight. It's required by law.

Sidewalk riding in general makes you vulnerable to cars pulling out of parking lots or driveways. If you ride on sidewalks, do so slowly and carefully, especially when riding in a crosswalk.