How To Keep Yourself Visible While Cycling
Cycling is a very enjoyable and healthy activity that more and more people are taking up. Apart from being fun and relaxing, cycling can be incredibly soothing to the soul. With incredible health benefits, it is no surprise that the number of people who started cycling in Scotland has increased by almost 50% in recent months.
However, there are also increasing numbers of accidents involving cyclists where the driver claimed that they couldn’t see the cycle rider on the road. The cyclists were seriously or even fatally injured in these accidents.
People don’t usually think about being involved in an accident until it actually happens. However, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared since you don’t know when you’ll be involved in one. It is essential to know what needs to be done when the situation arises.
Being road savvy is vital nowadays. One of the key aspects of being safe on the busy roads of Scotland is high visibility. Our No Win No Fee Personal Injury Lawyers are passionate to provide you with guidelines on road safety.
Here are some tips on how to stay visible to other drivers while cycling.
Clothing
In order to be seen during the nighttime, cyclists should opt for reflective clothing. Fluorescent clothing has been trending for quite some time now, but now manufacturers are focusing more on reflective options. These items work by reflecting light back to where it came from, which would be the driver’s headlights in the case of cyclists.
High visibility clothing items, be it reflective or fluorescent clothing, are the best choice for any cyclists who want to be bright and be seen. The greater the contrast between your clothing and the environment, the better, which means that any kind of dark clothing is extremely discouraged.
Having fluorescent clothing on the moving part of your body, such as on your legs instead of your torso, will make you more distinguishable to the drivers. So even if an accident occurs, you will be able to make a strong claim that you were clearly visible on the road.
Cycling Lights
It is illegal to ride a bike in the dark in the UK unless it has lights and reflectors attached. The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (RVLR) states that a cycle must have white front lights and red rear lights if the rider plans to take the cycle out at night. All cyclists should know that lights have to be fitted the right way. If the red light is on the front and the white is on the back, it will also be considered illegal.
Even though the lights aren’t necessarily mandatory during the daytime, it may be sensible to install them in case the weather turns foggy. They will help you be visible to other drivers. Furthermore, prefer installing flashing taillights instead of static ones as they will make you more visible on the roads.
Reflectors
They are another way of making your cycle visible to other drivers on the road. Not only will it increase visibility, but it is also cost-effective. They can be easily fitted on the cycle’s handles, spokes, seat posts and pedals. They work by reflecting the motorist’s headlights from wherever the reflectors are fitted, making you highly visible to them.
Other than that, the best way you can have a safe ride on a dark night is to cycle in a well-lit area. This way, no matter what you wear, or whether you have reflectors or not, you will be clearly visible to any motorist. Riding in a well-lit area will also prevent you from getting into any accidents due to either your own negligence or the negligence of others.
Although if you have been in an accident that was not your fault, you have all the rights to make a personal injury claim. In order to make a successful claim, you must prove that the driver was at fault and your injury is caused due to their negligence.
Sometimes it can be hard to figure out who was at fault in an accident. Luckily, HD Claims can help you by taking an in-depth look at the event that lead to the accident and determining the person at fault.
