Share the road, make it safe for all

If it seems like bicycles are everywhere these days, it’s not your imagination. More bicyclists hit the roads between May and September than any other time of the year, so it should come as no surprise that most accidents involving riders happen during the summer and fall.

According to federal government statistics, 660 bicyclists died in crashes with motor vehicles in 2002, the most recent year for which fatality data are available. Fifty-four percent of the deaths happened between May and September.

“What the statistics don’t tell you is that a lot of those accidents were avoidable,” said Jeff Beyer, senior vice president and chief communications officer of Farmers Insurance Group. “Driver distraction, or failure to use due care was probably to blame in a lot of the cases.”

It’s pretty easy to get caught up in the world within our motor vehicles. The radio or CD player is on, people are talking in the backseat, and you’re on the cell phone. There are often more distractions inside the car than on the road, but Beyer says that’s no excuse for being inattentive and causing an accident.

Here are some tips Farmers encourages drivers to keep in mind — particularly about bicycles and motorcycles - during the warmer months, and any time of year for that matter.

• When you come to an intersection, make a complete scan. Look not only at traffic around you, but for what’s ahead on the road. There may be kids on bikes a few yards behind an oncoming car, about to enter the intersection.

•Make a habit of looking for the unusual. Broaden your spectrum of where to look and what you might see. Many seemingly unavoidable accidents might be prevented through better surveillance.

•Try to drive with an open space in the adjacent lane, as opposed to right next to another vehicle. This will improve your ability to react to potential trouble ahead.

•Don’t be shortsighted. Get into the habit of looking down the road at what’s ahead. Don’t think in terms of distance, but time. Always think of where you will be in 10 seconds.

•Keep your eyes moving. Every now and then, sneak a glance off into the distance, and don’t forget to check your mirrors.