Florida Personal Injury Attorney
  • Home
  • Our Attorneys
    • Douglas W. Tuttle
    • Dana C. Larsen
    • Jesse H. Larsen
  • Practice Areas
    • Bicycle Accidents
    • Criminal Defense
    • Dog Bite Accidents
    • Motorcycle Accidents
    • Motor Vehicle Accidents
    • Pedestrian Accidents
    • Premises Liability
    • Slip-And-Fall Accidents
    • Traumatic Brain Injuries
    • Trucking Accidents
    • Wrongful Death
  • Results
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • Contact
  • 772-563-0032

Take care when passing cyclists on Florida’s roads

Home / Motorcycle Accidents / Take care when passing cyclists on Florida’s roads
June 17, 2020
Motorcycle Accidents

“Car driver killed in crash with a cyclist.” Have you ever seen this headline? It’s unlikely. Whereas you have probably seen plenty of headlines where cyclists died in crashes with drivers. As a driver in charge of a ton or more of moving steel, you need to take extra care around cyclists.

Scientists in Sweden decided to look at how cars pass cyclists on out-of-town roads. They found three primary forms of overtaking:

  • Flying: A vehicle passes at a constant speed without slowing down.
  • Accelerating: The driver slows down and sits behind the cyclist before accelerating past them at an opportune moment.
  • Piggybacking: Other drivers follow the first overtaking car, overtaking the bicycle when it does.

The study found drivers took longer to pass and left less distance between them and the cyclist when using the flying method, rather than the accelerating strategy. If a car was coming the other way, the drivers left less distance between them and the cyclists, less than one meter at times.

The researchers found 28% of drivers used piggybacking, but did not look at how close these cars passed or how quickly they passed. The average speed at which the cars overtook the cyclist was 45 miles per hour. On average, drivers had 1.6 seconds to take evasive action to avoid a crash, if a cyclist wobbled or steered around a pothole.

Think about that for a second. Think about it for 1.6 seconds. Could you react that fast? It takes five seconds to check a text while driving. What about if you have a drink in your hand, how many seconds would it take to wrench the steering wheel left with only one hand?

Cyclists need room to steer around potholes, drain covers or simply wobble without being struck by a passing car. The more space you give them, the more time you have to avoid causing a bicycle accident.

Share
Previous Post
Could delayed symptoms after a car accident be a sign of serious injuries?
Next Post
Dangerous dogs: Here’s what to know about dog bites in America
Contact Us Today

Get your free case review within 24 hours. All Fields Required.





    How Would You Like To Be Contacted?
    PhoneEmail
    Brief Description of Your Legal Issue

    Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
    I have read the disclaimer *

    Florida Injury Law Firm

    Tuttle Law, P.A.

    Vero Beach Office

    3617 20th St.
    Vero Beach, FL 32960

    Call us 24/7 to schedule a free consultation:

    Phone: 772-563-0032
    Fax: 772-563-2134

    Also serving Sebastian FL,  Port St. Lucie FL,
    Fort Pierce FL and Indian River County

    Tuttle Law, P.A.
    • About
    • Contact Tuttle Law, P.A.
    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
    Attorneys
    • Douglas W. Tuttle
    • Dana C. Larsen
    • Jesse H. Larsen
    Resources:
    • Bicycle Accident Lawyer Vero Beach, FL
    • Car Accident Lawyer Vero Beach, FL
    • Lyft Accident Lawyer Vero Beach, FL
    • Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Vero Beach, FL
    • Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Vero Beach, FL
    • Personal Injury Lawyer Sebastian, FL
    • Premises Liability Lawyer Sebastian, FL
    • Slip and Fall Lawyer Sebastian, FL
    • Uber Accident Lawyer Vero Beach, FL
    • Wrongful Death Lawyer Vero Beach, FL

    Copyright Tuttle Law, P.A. © 2021. All Rights Reserved. Powered By Matador Solutions - Sitemap

    • Blog
    • Home
    • Our Attorneys
      • Douglas W. Tuttle
      • Dana C. Larsen
      • Jesse H. Larsen
    • Practice Areas
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • Criminal Defense
      • Dog Bite Accidents
      • Motorcycle Accidents
      • Motor Vehicle Accidents
      • Pedestrian Accidents
      • Premises Liability
      • Slip-And-Fall Accidents
      • Traumatic Brain Injuries
      • Trucking Accidents
      • Wrongful Death
    • Results
    • Blog
    • Reviews
    • Contact