Being a good driver is about more than just following the speed limit and using your turn signal. In order to avoid accidents, you must be mindful of how other people are using the road as well. 

This is not limited to just other cars but you must watch for pedestrians and cyclists as well. Although a cyclist doesn’t ride directly in a car’s lane, they do ride alongside it and must also be considered. Here are some dos and don’ts you should keep in mind when it comes to sharing the road with cyclists.

Do Give Cyclists Their Space

In many cities, cyclists have their own lane for a reason; therefore, you should do your best to stay as far away from it as possible. It is best to try to keep at least three feet between your vehicle and a bicycle in order to avoid any mishaps. 

This way, if they were to exit their lane suddenly, you will have time to swerve and avoid a collision. Otherwise, you might find yourself in court and dealing with insurance claims for bicycle accident compensation. Therefore, avoid parking in or driving too close to a bicycle lane whether it is empty or occupied.

Do Be Careful When Turning and Passing

Bicycles tend to be more difficult to spot than automobiles, so you should use extreme caution when turning. Make sure you are checking your blind spot before you make your turn, and coming to a complete stop at all red lights and stop signs. 

If you must pass a cyclist, be sure to allow plenty of room between the both of you. Furthermore, you should watch your speed when passing as well, so you can avoid hitting a cyclist and causing them serious injury [source].

Things You Should Avoid Doing

While there are many dangerous driving habits that can cause an accident, the injuries a cyclist can receive tend to be far worse than if they were in an automobile. Here are some things you should avoid doing when cyclists are on the road:

• Driving aggressively: Pulling off too abruptly or changing lanes too fast can cause you to not see a cyclist and hit them.
• Speeding: If you are going fast and a cyclist comes into your lane, you might not have enough time to stop and avoid an accident.
• Drunk driving: Driving while drunk can cause you to drive carelessly and swerve into other lanes, such as the bicycle lane.

Don’t Assume

Not only is it important that you are alert when sharing the road with cyclists, but you don’t ever want to assume. If you come to a stop or a yield, you should always allow cyclists to go first just to ensure that they are safely out of the way. At the same time, just as there are people behind the wheel who don’t follow all of the traffic rules, there are cyclists who might do the same. 

Always be sure of what the other person is going to do before you make a move. Unlike a car, cyclists don’t have traditional turn signals and must use their hands in order to signal what direction they intend to go in. 

The bottom line is that you want to always drive safely for yourself as well as others if you are to avoid having an accident. Always try to stay vigilant and see what the other person is going to do. Drive with extreme caution and remain sober and alert behind the wheel. By doing all of these things and keeping a safe distance, you can keep yourself as well as others safe while out on the road. 

About the Author 

Early in his journalism career, Kerry L. Tucker had a revelation: there were not enough experts reporting on law issues. Legal matters are part of daily life. Yet, there seems to be a general aversion towards them. One of the main reasons for this is that the convoluted legal language is difficult for many people to follow. Therefore, he decided to change how the law is perceived by the public. Throughout his career, he met with many people who shared their personal stories with him. Some of these hit him harder. One of the cases that stayed with him and influenced his future career development was a car accident case involving a child. From then on, he decided to zero in on car accident lawsuits.