New Jersey cyclists have the right to bike year-round. They can share the road with drivers even during frigid winter weather. Seasonal safety awareness is critical for cyclists who decide to be out on the roads in the winter months.
While they cannot control the conduct of drivers, who are often responsible for crashes involving bicycles, they can make safety-conscious choices that reduce their risk of life-altering injuries and major financial setbacks. An awareness of what causes many winter cycling crashes can help cyclists cultivate appropriate seasonal safety practices.
What factors may particularly increase a cyclist’s risk during the winter months?
1. Slick road surfaces
Ice, snow and slush are even more dangerous for cyclists than they are for drivers. Motorists at least have the protection of an enclosed vehicle and its safety systems if they go off the road or get struck by someone who skids on the ice. Cyclists do not have that protection. Cyclists may want to prioritize traveling on roads where snow and ice removal is prioritized by local authorities. They also likely need to ensure that their bicycles are in safe condition for handling winter roads. Special tires and regular inspections can help cyclists reduce their risk of losing control and crashing due to slippery roads.
2. Lower light levels
The winter sees much shorter days and longer nights. That translates to more dark hours. Cyclists in New Jersey must invest in illuminated front and rear lights/lamps to comply with state law if they intend to be on the road during transitional times of day or after the sun sets. Those lights can also help draw attention during snowstorms, which can also affect visibility on the road. Whenever possible, cyclists may want to ride when the sun is up and there is no active precipitation.
3. Drivers overlooking them
The final safety concern is one of the most common causes of cycling collisions in general. Driver inattention, or the failure to cognitively check for cyclists, can lead to motorists overlooking bicycles in traffic. This cognitive issue is even more pronounced during the winter months, when people generally don’t expect to share the road with bicycles.
Cyclists have legal rights if they end up hurt due to unsafe drivers who cause crashes. Reporting a winter weather bicycle collision could make it possible for an injured cyclist to hold a driver accountable for unsafe conduct in traffic.