How Not To Get Hit By Cars - Part III - Teri Overstreet

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Last week, we wrote about one of the most common cycling accident situations, the Right Cross. This week, we’ll talk about the Door Prize and the Red Light of Death. There’s no secret to the Door Prize. A driver opens his or her door right in front of you. You run right into it if you can't stop in time. If you're lucky, the motorist will not yet have exited the car before you hit, saving him or her from serious injury Avoiding this collision is not difficult. When traveling alongside stopped vehicles, ride far enough to the left that you won't run into any door that's opened unexpectedly. You may be wary about riding so far into the lane that cars can't pass you easily, but you're more likely to get “doored” by a parked car if you ride too close to it than you are to get hit from behind by a vehicle which can clearly see you. Also, use great care when passing stopped cars on the right as you approach a red light. You can get “doored” by a passenger exiting the car on the right side, or hit by a car that unexpectedly pulls into a parking space on the right side of the street. Now the Red Light of Death. You’re stopped to the right of a car that's already waiting at a red light or stop sign. The driver cannot see you. When the light turns green, you move forward and then the car turns right, directly into you. Even small cars can do you in this way, but this scenario is especially dangerous when it's a bus or a semi. Getting crushed under the wheels is a real possibility. You can avoid this collision by not stopping in a vehicle’s blind spot. One approach is to simply stop behind the vehicle instead of right next to it. This position makes you very visible to traffic on all sides and the second vehicle in line can see you clearly. If you choose this option, when the light turns green, do not pass the car in front of you. It might turn right without warning. If it doesn't turn right away, it may still turn right into a driveway or parking lot unexpectedly at any point. Also, don't count on drivers to signal because they often don't. Assume that a car can turn right at any time and never pass a car on the right. At the same time, you need to stay ahead of the car behind you until you're through the intersection, because it might cut you off as it turns right. Another option is to stop well in front of the vehicle where the driver can see you. If you take this approach, ride quickly to cross the street as soon as the light turns green. Don't look at the motorist to see if he or she wants to go ahead or turn. If you're ahead and the car wants to turn, then you're in the way. Why did you take that spot if you weren't ready to cross the street? When the light turns green, go and go quickly. Of course, you need to make sure no one is running the red light on the cross street. NEXT TIME: The Right Hook and the Left Cross Teri Overstreet joined the BBVFC in 2007. She is from Milford, graduated from Sussex Central and has been a member of the Millsboro VFC since 2003. Teri is a firefighter/EMT with the Rehoboth Beach VFC and can be reached at [email protected].