In honor of Bicycle Safety Month the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission is promoting its program, “Be a Roll Model.”
According to the NHTSC being a “Roll Model” means:
- Riding and Driving Focused — never distracted.
- Riding and Driving Prepared — always expect the unexpected.
- Putting Safety First — we never know when a crash will occur, regardless of skill level or age; always wear a bicycle helmet when on a bicycle and a seat belt when in a car.
- Following the Rules of the Road — a bicyclist is considered a vehicle on the road with all the rights on the roadway and responsibilities of motorized traffic.
- Expecting law enforcement officers to monitor and address unsafe behaviors between motorists and bicyclists that put bicyclists at risk.Sharing the Road — both vehicle drivers (motorist and bicyclist) should look out for one another and show mutual respect.
Why Bicycle Safety Month? “NHTSA statistics show that in 2012, 726 bicyclists were killed and an additional 49,000 were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes.”