Bike riding at night is more dangerous than riding in the day. According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 45 percent of all bicycle fatalities happen at night compared to 51 percent during the day. This is significant because the vast majority of bike riding is during the day.
New Jersey Law
New Jersey requires that every bike be equipped with (NJS 38:4-10):
- A lamp on the front that emits a white light visible from 500 feet.
- A lamp on the rear that emits a red light visible from 500 feet.
- A red reflector that is visible from 50 to 300 feet from the rear.
Bicycle Safety
Obeying the law and outfitting a bike with lights and reflectors will go a long way to keep cyclists safe when riding at night. For a cyclist, visibility is everything. If the bike isn’t seen by the driver, then there is a high risk of an accident.
However, there are other things a savvy bike rider can do to keep safe at night:
- Light-colored/reflective clothing: Dark clothing hide the rider, so avoid these at night. If the rider can’t then add reflectors to arms, legs and other areas.
- Know your route: Don’t get lost. Know where you are going before you start out.
- Don’t ride on seat: If your visibility is low, then riding on the seat can be dangerous when you hit an object or a pothole. Your legs can act like a shock absorber and keep you from flying off your bike.
- Obey traffic laws: Knowing the law and obeying can help you keep safe.
- Ride with buddy: When possible, ride with a buddy so both can arrive at the destination safely.
Contact a South Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer.
After any accident involving a serious injury, contact a South Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer such as Edith Pearce. Unlike the huge firms with dozens of attorneys and many different attorneys handling different aspects of your case, Edith Pearce is personally involved in every case that we handle. She genuinely cares about her clients and you will not be treated like just another case or file.
Contact The Pearce Law Firm, P.C. at (856) 354-5688 for a free consultation and case evaluation. We handle clients in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.