Troopers Remind Bicyclists of Safety on Area Roadways
from Delaware State Police
Presented by Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Gary Fournier
Delaware - The Delaware State Police would like to remind bicyclists of safety and laws while riding along the roadways.
Delaware - The Delaware State Police would like to remind bicyclists of safety and laws while riding along the roadways.
From year to date there have been 15 collisions involving bicyclists on our highways, one of them was a fatal hit and run that occurred in north of Dover (**Update** Troopers Investigating Fatal Hit and Run Crash with Bicyclist-Dover).
Over the last week, state police have investigated two crashes in the Rehoboth area that involved pedal cyclists riding improperly on the roadway.
The first occurred Monday June 5, 2017 around 1:45 p.m., when a 21-year-old female was riding southbound in the northbound shoulder of Coastal Highway (SR1) at the intersection with Rehoboth Beach Plaza (across from Spring Lake Drive). At the same time, a 2007 Kia Sedona was exiting the plaza to turn northbound on SR1 when the car struck the female on the bike. The 21-year-old female was transported to Beebe with non-life-threatening injuries and was cited for Operating a Bicycle on the Wrong Side of the Road.
Another incident occurred on Tuesday June 6, 2017 at approximately 1:11 p.m., when a 21-year-old female was riding her bicycle northbound on the sidewalk approaching the entrance to IHOP which is located on the southbound side of SR1 north of Shuttle Road. A 2017 Volkswagen Jetta was exiting the parking lot to travel southbound on SR1 when the two collided. The female bicyclist was transported to Beebe with non-life-threatening injuries and was cited for Riding A Bicycle On a Sidewalk or Crosswalk Where Prohibited.
As we enter into the summer months, troopers would like to provide the following information for bicyclists riding in Delaware. Obey the rules of the road. Drivers and bicyclists are expected to observe traffic rules such as stop signs and red lights. Ignoring these traffic rules can lead to injuries that would have otherwise been preventable. Never ride against the flow of traffic. Drivers and pedestrians alike may not be expecting bicyclists riding in that direction. Also stay in your lane and don't ride on the sidewalk if you're an adult. Avoid distracted riding much like you would if you were driving a car, and wait to check your cell phone until you're safely off the road.
Visibility can be an issue for bicyclists in the dark, so take steps to ensure that motorists can see you. Adding white front lights and red back lights to your bike, plus reflective tape or clothing can also help make you more visible in the dark. It is against Delaware law to operate a bicycle at night without a front headlight. And remember, visibility isn't just an issue late at night; cloudy days and early mornings can impair motorists' ability to see bicyclists on the road too.
More information on bicycle safety can be found on the Delaware Office of Highway Safety website and laws can be found on the State of Delaware website under Online Delaware Code.
Released: 061117 0800
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