Bike Safety for Teachers
Did you know…
- The single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes is a helmet?
Encourage your students to follow these tips to keep them safe while riding a bike:
- Their helmet should be comfortable and snug, but not too tight. It should sit centered on top of their head in a level position, and it should not rock forward and backward or side to side. The helmet straps must always be buckled snugly against their chins.
- Remind them to ask mom and dad to make sure their bike's reflectors are secure, the brakes work properly, gears shift smoothly and tires are tightly secured and properly inflated.
- Ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, not against. Stay as far to the right as possible.
- Use appropriate hand signals.
- Respect traffic signals, stopping at all stop signs and stop lights.
- Stop and look left, right and left again before entering a street or crossing an intersection. Look back and yield to traffic coming from behind before turning left.
- Ride their bicycles on the sidewalk until they are 10-years-old.
- Don't ride a bicycle when it's dark, in the fog or in other low-visibility conditions.
- If riding at dusk, dawn or in the evening is unavoidable, they should use a light on their bike and make sure it has reflectors.
- Wear clothing and accessories that incorporate retroreflective materials to improve their visibility to motorists.
Visit the following sites for more information and materials: