30 cyclists have been injured in road accidents in eight months

In the eight months of this year, 47 road traffic accidents were recorded, involving 30 cyclists, of which 23 were slightly injured and seven were serious, Zane Vaskane, a senior specialist of the Vidzeme Regional Police of the State Police (LETA), informed LETA.

One bicycle driver was killed in an accident. In August alone, there were ten road accidents involving cyclists. Five cyclists were injured there. By contrast, in the eight months of last year, 64 road accidents were recorded in which 49 cyclists were injured, of which 17 cyclists seriously injured and one bicycle driver died. In the first days of September, several juvenile cyclists also suffered in Vidzeme.

The bike is a great ally that can make it easier to get to work, school, and open up new recreational and travel opportunities, but the State Police recalls that some rules that apply to every road user must be respected, as well as certain safety requirements directly to cyclists.

The police recall the most important requirements that cyclists must meet.

The bike must always be in good working order. Each time you drive, you should make sure that your brakes are working properly and that the tires are inflated to the correct pressure.

It is recommended that you wear brightly colored clothing with reflective fabrics. Children must wear a safety helmet and be fastened. In places where there is no dedicated cycling infrastructure, cyclists should walk along the street in one lane and as close as possible to the right edge of the carriageway.

Children up to the age of 12 and their accompanying persons are allowed to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk.

However, any other cyclist may also travel on the sidewalk if he/she does not feel safe on the road, for example in heavy traffic or bad weather. Just keep in mind that pedestrians move along the sidewalk, meaning that cyclists must respect pedestrians and their safety.

When driving in the dark or other conditions of low visibility, the bicycle must turn on the headlights - the white light on the front and the red light on the rear. The rules require the bike to be fitted with reflective materials, a police spokeswoman said.

Although the number of injured cyclists has fallen in the eight months of 2019, it remains relatively high. The LP has registered some child traffic accidents, so at the start of the new school year, the VP urges parents to discuss safety issues with their children, to repeat the rules of the road, so that the road to school is safe and without unpleasant surprises.