AN OUNCE (OR TWO) OF PREVENTION COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

by John Duggan

Over the past two years I have investigated more than 100 bike/car incidents in the Greater Seattle area. The common thread in nearly every one of these incidents is that the car driver was not aware of the cyclist until it was too late and often not until the moment of impact. The most common accident involves a left turning car driver who simply does not see the oncoming cyclist.

Awareness is the key. Cyclists simply do not have the mass or size of a car and are essentially invisible to motorists. Furthermore, there are not enough cyclists on the roads to make an impact. The everyday car driver is not accustomed to seeing cyclists on the road and, therefore, cyclists are not on the driver's radar screen. If a car driver only sees the occasional cyclist, he/she does not have a heightened awareness or an anticipatory thought process- - "Before I change lanes, I better look over my shoulder to see if there is a cyclist to my right." Or, "Although there are no cars approaching, I better scan to check for cyclists." Until there is a dramatic increase in the number of cyclists sharing the road with cars, this automatic, reflexive thought process on the part of motor vehicle drivers will remain a distant dream.

Besides encouraging everyone we know to commute by bike, what can cyclists do to immediately raise awareness? Buy a strobe and use it as a daytime running light. I have had a small LED strobe on my bike for about a year, but until recently, I only used it at night. Motorcycles are required by statute (RCW 46.37.522) to have their headlamp on during daylight hours and most new cars have headlights that automatically come on when the car is running. The logic is simple. While daytime use of such lights does not help a cyclist or motorcyclist see any better, it dramatically increases the cyclist's visibility to others.

Over the past few years the market has been flooded with an abundance of small, lightweight and inexpensive LED flashers/strobes. Planet Bike, CatEye, Performance and NiteRider all sell models ranging from $15 to $30. These lights will run from 100 to 160 hours on two or three AAA batteries. The lights are simple to use and clip onto your handlebars or helmet in seconds.

Using one of these inexpensive LED strobes during the day is the simplest and maybe the most effective thing you can do to increase your visibility during daylight hours. Ride Safely!

John Duggan is an avid cyclist and Seattle attorney who represents injured cyclists. He is a member of the Cascade Bicycle Club, Bicycle Alliance of Washington and the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. He is also a sponsor and member of the Byrne/Jet City Velo Cycling Team. He can be reached at 206-343-1888 or JohnD@warrenduggan.com.