How to overtake a cyclist safely- VIDEO Significant Auto Insurance

August 25th, 2011 by Mikayla Barney

How to overtake a cyclist safely- VIDEO

The Tour de France has had its fair share of crashes so far this year. But none of these were more shocking than the incident where a TV car swerved into two cyclists Juan Antonio Flecha and Johnny Hoogerland flipping them into the air and straight into a barbed wire fence. The accident happened when the TV car driver tried to pass the cyclists on a narrow country road, failing to spot an obstacle up ahead.

Check out this video to see just how lucky the two cyclists were to avoid more serious, if not fatal injuries:

Unfortunately, many cyclists do not walk away from similar accidents – recent figures from the Road Safety Authority reveal that over 600 cyclists were killed or seriously injured on Irish roads between 1997 and 2010. So learning how to share the road safely is of huge concern to motorists and cyclists alike.

When you’re overtaking a cyclist, the most important things to remember are to

allow plenty of space, and
always anticipate a cyclist having to make a sudden move to avoid a pothole or obstruction

This video clip – part of an awareness campaign supported by AXA Insurance Ireland - shows how to overtake a cyclist safely:

The campaign aims to prevent collisions between motorists and cyclists by educating the public about bicycle safety. Of course, improving bike safety is a two-way street. Noel Gibbons, Road Safety Office with the RSA explains: Drivers need to know that cyclists have a right to the road and cyclists need to know that drivers are looking out for their safety. Thats why we all need to work together to take simple steps to share the road and keep our roads safe.

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