DON'T GET RIGHT-HOOKED
DON'T GET RIGHT-HOOKED
Lance Armstrong, seven time winner of the Tour de France, once called Tucson a bicycling "Mecca". Apparently many bicyclists agree. You see them everywhere. In fact, the League of American Bicyclists has awarded the Tucson/Pima County metropolitan area "Gold" status as a bicycle friendly community. Unfortunately, an increase in bicyclists leads to a concurrent increase in bicycle/motor vehicle collisions.
One of the most common of these collisions is known as the "right hook." The right hook happens when a car makes a right turn and strikes a bicyclist who was on the car's right, most commonly traveling in the same direction as the car. Although this type of collision is one of the most common, it is also one of the most preventable. If you are riding a
bicycle, you can decrease your chances of being right hooked by following a few simple rules:
- Pay attention! If you are in a bike lane approaching an intersection, look at the tail lights of the cars in traffic ahead of you. If one has a turn signal on, don't try to pass it on the right. Whenever a motor vehicle passes you while approaching an intersection, watch the vehicle for signs of a turn: slowing, brake lights or turn signal. BE PREPARED TO STOP!
- Never ride on a sidewalk! You might think that you are safer on a sidewalk, but the driver of an automobile will not be looking for you there when he checks his mirrors. Besides, riding on the sidewalk is illegal within the city limits of Tucson and TPD is ticketing sidewalk riders.
- Always ride with the flow of traffic! Again, automobile drivers are not looking for the "wrong way" cyclist. Under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-812 a person riding a bicycle has the same rights and same duties as the driver of a vehicle. In other words, a bicycle on the street is required to follow the same rules of the road as a vehicle.
- If you find yourself in a right hook situation and don't have time to stop, take evasive action: turn right with the vehicle.
- Always remember to keep your cool. It never helps a situation to curse or berate a driver, even one who isn't paying enough attention
As a Tucson and Phoenix personal injury law firm, the Zanes Law team helps hundreds of clients each year who have been injured in preventable accidents, including bicyclists who have been struck by inattentive drivers. If you've been injured in a
bicycle accident, or any other type of accident,
call an injury lawyer at Zanes Law (520) 777-7777.