NHTSA, AAA join together for National Bike Safety Month with new "Roll Model" campaign

Today, I am happy to let everyone know that May is National Bike Safety Month.  As summer approaches, millions of Americans will climb onto their bikes to enjoy one of the most enjoyable ways to get some exercise, have some fun, and get where they need to go.

Whatever your reason for saddling up, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and AAA want you to ride safely.  To help spread this important message, they've joined together to launch "Roll Model," a campaign reminding parents and caregivers to set positive examples that encourage children and teens to ride safely, this month and every month.

And what's the first lesson in bike safety?  Always wear a properly-fitting bicycle helmet.  As AAA Vice President Kathleen Marvaso said, “Children look to parents for guidance, so we want kids to see mom and dad wearing a helmet, and to follow their lead.”

I couldn't agree more.  Take it from a father of four and grandfather of nine, kids are always watching. Because parents and caregivers are role models for children, we need to teach by example.  That means wearing helmets and observing all the rules of the road every time you ride.

Remember, bicycles on the road must follow the same laws as motorized vehicles.  Riding in the same direction as vehicle traffic, obeying traffic lights and stop signs, and signaling your intentions are important ways of modeling safe riding and protecting your own safety.

Almost all adult bicyclists are also drivers.  So being a good "Roll Model" also means sharing the road and treating bicyclists respectfully when you're behind the wheel.  Be patient and pass bicyclists only when safe to do so, leaving at least three feet between your vehicle and the bicyclist.  And remember to put away cell phones and texting devices when driving.

NHTSA and AAA are not just worried about protecting kids.  It may surprise you to learn that in the U.S. the average age for a bicyclist killed is 41.  So, by being better examples for America's kids, adults are also increasing their own safety.

As I've said many times, at the Department of Transportation safety is our number one priority.  And we've put together a strong collection of resources to help kids and adults learn about bike safety.  NHTSA's Bike Safety website offers a great place to start.  We also have a Pedestrian and Bicyclist Information site and our Safe Routes to School website.  AAA offers another terrific page, Share The Road.

Now, when adults practice safe riding and driving, kids learn.  But educating adult riders and drivers is more difficult.  If you have suggestions for innovative ways to help DOT promote safer biking and driving behavior, please let us know by leaving a comment here on this blog or contacting NHTSA.

I'm looking forward to some great bicycling this month, and I hope you are, too.  Like NHTSA and AAA, let's partner together to make it the safest bike season ever.  Let's be good "Roll Models."

Comments

[gibbo]

I'm loathe to listen to AAA's stance on such issues, when their local mid-atlantic chapter lobbies to get rid of all transportation trust fund spending on bike, pedestrian, and even transit facilities.

[Donna Aguiar]

National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI) Summer Camp!

NSTI explores all modes of transportation and how we can create communities of the future that are safe and people oriented. Check out www.uvm.edu/trc/nsti and apply today.

[julie Childers]

trailsforyouth.org is releasing a new video entitled: "listen,learn, and lead, bicycle and pedestrian advice for adults" This short bicycle video gives sound advice (in english and spanish) on leading by example

As part of the U.N. decade of actions, folks who share the video online on May 11 will be eligible to win some great prizes while spreading the word of traffic safety!!

More to follow on May 11!!!

[Barry Childress]

Seriously do you guys (NHTSA and AAA) tell truckers how drive without consulting truckers? Then why are you doing this with bicyclists? Why is the League of American Bicyclists not involved? Why are you using signage that has not been adopted into the MUTCD?

I urge you to be a "Roll Model" and consult with organizations that are truly out to improve safety for a mode of travel you are talking about rather then make up stuff as you go.

[Afrika]

Roll Model is an interesting campaign that wont end this month but carry on through the years. to all adult bikers... let set a good example for the children and we shall all enjoy this spring and summer safely. all motorist must respect each other. I support roll model for safety and u?

[Bobby Asworth]

I find it interesting that this campaign is brought to us by a consortium that includes an auto-centric group but doesn't include The League of American Bicyclists.

Elderly drivers are one of the greatest causes of cyclist deaths, and yet the AAA regularly lobbies hard against any mandatory retesting at decade marks for drivers who in many cases are extremely dangerous. If the AAA wishes to bring greater bike safety, simply reducing its lobbying budget in this area would go a long way.

[Zane Selvans]

Why the US DoT would take bike safety advice from the AAA and NHTSA, I have no idea. They're not exactly familiar with biking, or supportive of it.

[Susan Jones]

It grieves me when the "first" thing you're told is to wear a helmet.
Helmets are good if you have an accident -- and you hit your head.
The FIRST parts of safety should be about preventing the accidents.

[B. Carfree, Eugene, OR]

How about the NHTSA and AAA being proper "roll models" by:
1.) Not using a road sign that is not found in the MUTCD. In fact, your sign shows a car buzzing a cyclist. Get a clue. How about using the "Bicycles may use full lane" sign? By the way, three feet of clearance when passing is the minimum for low speed roads; add a foot for every 10 mph over 25 mph.
2.) Helmets are often worse than useless in a wreck involving a car or a high-speed cyclist because of target and torsional effects. They are designed for the sort of impact that happens when a novice simply falls over at low speed. There is also research that suggests motorists give unhelmeted cyclists more room when passing. Drop the helmet plug. Now, if you want to talk about how many motorist lives could be saved by mandatory helmet use in cars...
3.) Most long-term cyclists ride all year round. Rain, snow, sleet, wind, ice or fog we're out there moving along without damaging our economy or environment with imported oil. Also, our numbers are growing faster than any other form of transportation. Drop the whole seasonal plaything attitude.

[mcas]

Where, exactly, is the data that actually shows that riding a bicycle makes you more prone to Traumatic Brain Injury than, say, riding a bike?

Hey, AAA -- stop trying to make people thinking biking is more dangerous than driving!

[Luke]

NHTSA and AAA, why didnt you actually talk with cyclists about how to promote bicycling during Bike month?

It is Bike Month, not motorists-tell-bicyclists-what-to-do-month.

And as long as you are grandstanding about safety standards why are you highlight a picture of a sign that is not accepted by the manual of uniform traffic control devices? (http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2003/part9/part9b.htm)

Start by talking LAB and using correct signage...thats how you might promote cycling....since it is BIKE MONTH.

[Cycling For Beginners]

It seems unfortunate that the emphasis is on helmets and lecturing cyclists about the rules of the road. While cyclists should certainly follow the law, helmets won't prevent most injuries -- especially those from collisions with cars -- and their effectiveness in preventing head injuries is hotly debated. Statistically, helmet use in cars and while using stairs would prevent more head injuries than use by cyclists will.

I think it is important to remind folks that in most or all states bicycles are considered vehicles and have a legal right to use the road, which both (1) prohibits them from riding on sidewalks, and (2) includes taking up an entire lane when need be. Many motorists don't realize all of the debris that gathers near the side of the road that can be dangerous from cyclists to ride through.

I would also stress the benefits of cycling for: (1) reducing the number of cars on the road, (2) lowering the amount of pollution from cars, (3) creating a healthier nation and helping to fight childhood obesity. Bike safety is more than helmets -- it is realizing that cyclists are human beings who are doing something that is mostly positive, and who we (all drivers) have a duty not to harm.

[Jeffrey H. Marks]

While I generally ride my bicycle to the right WHEN SAFE, there are times that it's safer to take the lane, rather than ride far right. Examples of when it's safer to take the lane include, but aren't limited to, substandard width lanes that are too narrow to share with a motor vehicle, avoid potential danger of parked car doors opening, when travelling speed of traffic, and some areas where righthand turns are authorized. Two bicyclists (Jack Yates and Nathan Kapolanski) were respectively killed and put into a coma in Baltimore City by right turning motor vehicles . Both tragic crashes that occurred on downhills could have been prevented had Jack Yates used the travel lane instead of the parking lane and Nathan used the travel lane instead of the bikelane.
In summary bicyclists should only be instructed to keep right (or use a bikelane) when it's safe to do so. The bicyclist has the best view of when it's safe to keep right. Signs telling motorist that bicyclists must share the road by always keeping far right gives the wrong message.

[Joanna]

my kid actually learned his lesson about wearing a helmet in a strange way.
when he was younger he pulled on a bookshelf that gave him a nasty head injury (blood, hospital, er ~ all the good stuff) needless to say i bought furniture fasteners for just about everything in my home. i thought he was too young to remember, but whenever he goes biking, he NEVER leaves the house without a helmet... i guess its better that he learned his lesson without falling into the bike accident statistic (45,000 head injuries daily :( ...)
anyways thanks for posting and sharing :D