Why Do Motor Vehicles Collide With Bicyclists?

When bicyclists share the road with cars, they face many risks. Crashes between cars and bikes can cause serious injuries or even death, especially for the cyclist. Knowing why these crashes happen is key to making the roads safer and stopping future accidents. What are common reasons why cars and bikes collide?

Driver inattention

A big reason for crashes is driver distraction. Things like using phones, talking to passengers or doing too many things at once can make a driver miss seeing a bicyclist. It only takes a moment of distraction for a tragic accident to occur.

Failure to yield

Both drivers and cyclists need to follow traffic lights and signs. Crashes usually happen when someone does not give the right of way. Intersections are especially risky places where not following rules or misunderstandings can cause crashes.

Speeding

Bicycle crashes are more likely to occur on stretches of road than they are at intersections where both the bicyclist and the motorist are traveling at a higher speed. When drivers speed, it increases the risk even more because they have less time to react to bicyclists. Collisions that occur at higher speed also lead to more severe injuries. It is very important to keep a safe speed, especially where many cyclists are around.

Alcohol use

Driving after drinking alcohol or using drugs is a known cause of crashes, and the same goes for biking. Being drunk or high greatly lowers how well someone can drive or bike. Sadly, this often leads to deadly crashes, and more than one third of fatal bicyclist collisions involve alcohol.

Both drivers and bicyclists have a role to play in ensuring road safety. Being aware of these risks can help reduce the risk of bicycle accidents and create a safer environment for everyone on the road.