Vacaville Bicycle Safety Operation
I’m Ed Smith, a Vacaville car accident lawyer. Officials from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) worked in conjunction with the Solano County Sheriff’s Office on the weekend of Friday, September 1, 2017, through Monday, September 4, 2017, conducting a special operation aiming to enhance the safety of bicyclists on Vacaville’s rural Pleasants Valley Road.
The Operation
The operation was funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National HIghway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and included increased enforcement during the weekend along Pleasants Valley Road and surrounding areas.
The operation was conducted in expectation of reckless driving during the Labor Day weekend, but was also in response to a July 30, 2017, accident on Pleasants Valley Road in which a bicyclist suffered major traumatic injuries.
The Accident
The accident in question occurred on Sunday, July 30, 2017, at around 11:20 a.m. on the southbound side of Pleasants Valley Road south of the intersection of Quail Canyon Road.
A 49-year-old San Francisco woman had reportedly been riding a 2016 Trek road bike at a speed of about 15 miles per hour when a large pickup truck pulling a 20-foot long trailer traveling at about 30 miles per hour failed to pass the woman safely and knocked her off her bicycle. The truck continued without stopping, making the accident a hit-and-run.
The woman was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Advice for motorists from CHP
As part of the weekend safety effort, CHP has released reminders for both motorists and bicyclists using rural roads in Vacaville and Solano County.
CHP, among other things, reminded motorists to:
- Give cyclists and vehicles alike at least 3 feet of room while passing. Drivers who do not think they can give a full 3 feet should simply stay behind until the road is wide enough.
- Be patient and take ample time when passing bicyclists. Because bicycles are slow-moving, maneuvering around them can take time. CHP advises motorists to relax and take a few minutes in order to reduce the risk of collision.
- Reduce speed around bicyclists.
- Expect bicycles. Motorists are advised to scan roadways for cyclists even if they think it is unlikely that one will be on the road. Additionally, CHP indicated that motorists should be careful while opening their vehicle doors, as they can obstruct the path of cyclists.
Advice for Bicyclists
CHP advised those riding bicycles to:
- Ride alongside traffic. CHP added that riding against traffic is the leading cause of bicycle accidents.
- Ride single file when riding with others.
- Avoid blocking the road in order to allow vehicles to pass safely.
- Obey all traffic laws including stop lights and signs.
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Vacaville Car Accident Lawyer
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