As the heat creeps in and the sun shines longer, many people throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey will take to their bikes for transportation, recreation and more. With school out, more and more children will be venturing out into the warm summer air with their friends. This increase in bike traffic, unfortunately, also means an increased risk of deadly bicycle accidents.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has teamed up with AAA to raise awareness of this risk among bicyclists, regardless of their age.
Did you know that, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the best way to protect yourself from a catastrophic head or brain injury while riding a bicycle is to wear a properly fitted helmet? An appropriate helmet reduces your risk of head injury by 85 percent and brain injury by almost 90 percent.
Making Sure Your Helmet Is Properly Fitted
- Measure your head before buying a helmet. When making your selection, try on several until you find one that is snug when the sizing pads and fit ring are adjusted.
- Your helmet should sit level on your head and low on your forehead. A good way to determine if it is set correctly is to place your fingers above your eyebrows. One to two finger widths is the appropriate distance.
- The side straps should form a V slightly under and in front of your ears.
- Your chin strap should be buckled such that you can only fit one or, at most, two fingers underneath the strap.
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, contact our law firm.
