do they signal. The key factor here is neglecting to look to the rear. If the cyclist had looked, he/she would have seen the danger coming up from behind.
What can you do? Of course, you ought to teach your child not to ride across busy streets - at least until the child has had some advanced training and is old enough to understand traffic. But in the meantime, for residential street riding, you can teach your child to always look and signal before turning left. A big part of this lesson is teaching the child how to look to the rear without swerving.
Take your child to a playground or a safe area away from traffic or obstructions to practice riding along a straight line while looking behind. Stand alongside and hold up a different number of fingers on your hand after the child rides by. Call his/her name. After 15 minutes of practice, a ten year old should be able to look behind his/herself and identify how many fingers you are holding up - without swerving.
d. Riding at Dawn, at Dusk or at Night (See also Section 4.F, page 19).
Most car/bicycle accidents happen at night where an overtaking car hits a bike. (An overtaking car is one that comes up from behind and passes the cyclist on the left.) These overtaking accidents can be very serious.
What can you do? First, you should keep your youngster from riding at dawn, dusk or at night. It requires special skills and equipment. Few children have either. Secondly, make sure your child understands that if he/she gets caught out at dusk or after dark on a bike, the thing to do is to call you for a ride home. One suggestion is to tape a phone number and money to the bike so that, in an emergency, the child will be able to call home.
e. Following the Leader
There is increased risk of car/bike collision if children are following each other, because if the first one does something dangerous, those following may do it too.
What can you do? Teach your child to always assess the traffic situation for him/herself. When a group is riding around, each cyclist should stop for stop signs; each cyclist should look to the rear before making left turns; and so on. One way to get the message across is to play a game with the child similar to ‘Simon Says’. In this game, however, the emphasis should not be on doing what ‘Simon Says’, but rather have the child make a decision based on the situation. The child should learn to ignore what ‘Simon Says’. Children need to learn to think for themselves to ride safely.
SUMMARY
Teach your child early - the earlier the better. Learning skills such as looking and avoiding hazards takes time. Be prepared to repeat lessons until your child understands what you’re trying to get across. Be patient. Your efforts will be rewarded, knowing that your child is aware of safe riding skills.
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