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Tips for motorists on sharing the road with bicyclists
As the weather warms, more people take their bicycles on the road, for commuting to work, helping the environment, exercise, recreation, and to save on automobile expenses. As bicycling gains in popularity, also on the rise is the likelihood of a crash with a car, truck, or other vehicle – and, so often, these crashes result in serious injury or death to the cyclist involved. In sharing the road with bicyclists, motorists can do a few simple things to make everyone's journey safer. Click here for tips on how to avoid common errors that drivers sometimes make that can result in serious injury or death.
Tips for motorists on sharing the road with bicyclists
As bicycling gains in popularity, also on the rise is the likelihood of a crash with a car, truck, or other vehicle – and, so often, these crashes result in serious injury or death to the cyclist involved. According to the NHTSA, while overall passenger vehicle deaths decreased in 2012, bicyclist fatalities increased. Bicyclists injured in accidents with a vehicle also rose during this time. In sharing the road with bicyclists, motorists can do a few simple things to make everyone's journey safer.
Ever had to slam on your brakes when driving through Bellingham to avoid a rear-end crash?
It happens when, of course, Bellingham drivers least expect it – a big rig up ahead has spilled its load, or a distracted driver swerves into the lane ahead, creating chaos for other drivers. Or maybe a herd of deer crosses a Whatcom county road. Here’s what to do so you can avoid a rear-end collision by learning more about panic stops.
One thing you can do to help prevent rear end collisions in foggy conditions
Here's a hint: turn your lights off! But only if you have stopped well away from the roadway. For the explanation of why you'd ever want to turn off your lights in the fog, and more tips on getting through it safely, head over to the blog for lawyer Bill Coats from Bellingham, Washington, a place that's quite familiar with fog and rain.
Being hit from behind on a motorcycle can have devastating consequences
It’s not always so cut and dry who is at fault in a rear-end collision. Usually it’s the fault of the driver who was following behind. Sometimes it’s easy to determine, but other cases have other complications. The insurance companies, you can rest assured, have a group of people whose job it is to find loopholes where there is a gray area. And just about every case has some gray area. So what do you do if you have been hit by someone from behind when you were on a motorcycle? Find out here.
When a car and train collide, the results can be deadly
Trains' whistles are often heard in Bellingham, and all through Whatcom County as well as Skagit County. As we are located in a busy corridor for trains traveling along the coast, their visits through here are increasingly frequent. Where cars and trains meet, sometimes deadlly accidents occur. Learn more about what factors can cause accidents at railroad crossings, and how dangerous it is for cars in an accident with a train.
What to do if you were in a motor vehicle and train crash?
It’s a scary thought, and luckily a fairly rare occurrence. Sometimes it’s a defect in the track. Other times, equipment failure. Sometimes a crash is due to a driver’s error.But nearly all cars that are hit by trains sustain devastating damages, and so do the people in them. Railroad companies will hire a team of private investigators to assess train crossing accidents, and are ready to employ them at the scene of any accident. The companies do not want to be held accountable for accidents that may have been due to their mistake. So what do you do if you've been in a vehicle crash with a train?
Motorcycling – Fun and freedom tempered by increased risk of collision
For enthusiasts, motorcycling is the preferred mode of travel. A sense of freedom, a close connection to the road and nature, and the speed and maneuverability of a motorcycle are all reasons why there has been an increase in motorcycling's popularity. However, given the vulnerability of a motorcyclist to the larger, heavier vehicles sharing the road, the danger in injury or death from a motorcycle accident is significantly greater. Click here for more information on what to do next if you were in a motorcycle crash.
Tips on safe motorcycling
There's an allure to motorcycle riding, as all those who love it will tell you. However, it's also one of the more dangerous kinds of vehicles when a collision does occur. Riders lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle and weigh so much less than a car... or semi-tractor trailer. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety(link is external), "the federal government estimates that per mile traveled in 2013, the number of deaths on motorcycles was over 26 times the number in cars." For yours and other motorists' safety, learn how to ride your motorcycle safely.
The Truck Safety Coalition
