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Bicycle Safety and NHTSA Safety Program

 

Bicycle Safety

According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), bicycles on the roadway are, by law, vehicles with the same rights, and responsibilities as motorized vehicles. NHTSA’s bicycle safety program focus is on research, education, and enforcement of bicyclists’ and motorists’ behavior to enhance roadway and bicycle safety and reduce bicycle injuries and fatalities in our nation.

In regards to Texas Motor Vehicle Laws, bicyclists using city streets during a ride must follow all traffic rules just like a motor vehicle. This includes stopping and yielding at signs, yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks and displaying proper illumination (front & back of bike). This also includes riding with the traffic flow on designated “one way” streets in designated bicycle lanes. Even Lance Armstrong couldn’t keep up with the flow of traffic in this state. And, using turn signals (hand signals…and, no, not the finger). Bicyclists must use hand signals to signal their intent to stop, turn left, or turn right.

Proper Hand Signals:

  • Stop – Extend the left hand and arm downward
  • Left Turn – Extend the left hand and arm horizontally
  • Right Turn – Extend the left hand and arm upward, or extend the right hand and arm horizontally

People That Do Not Use Their Turn Signals or Blinkers


Well, if you just watched the video you will see how the general public really doesn’t know what to do. I ride a bike and drive a car and know the importance of hand signals. Seriously, your life or someone else’s life can depend on them.

There are actually 9 hand signals that bicycle riders use. If you are riding your bike on the roads it would be a good idea to learn all 9 of them. Some are as simple as alerting riders of loose gravel or dirt on the road, and others are more important…like stopping.

Comedy Defensive Driving

Daun Thompson: Daun Thompson has spent years acting in both film and theatre which has been paramount in launching her onto the comedy stage (incidentally, without a helmet, resulting in a nasty concussion). Being a funny girl is a full time job. A job that she hopes that one day will come with dental benefits and a 401K. Unlike her work, she is biodegradable, yet flame retardant. And gentle to the touch. Her goal in life??? For strangers to approach her and ask "Didn't you used to be somebody?" In the late 1980's she cut her teeth at the Velveeta Room on 6th Street in Austin, Texas ... the original room with the stripper pole. From there, she moved to northern California and worked with many comedy icons, like Mitch Hedberg, Marc Maron, Colin Quinn, Vic Dunlop, Huck Flyn, Michael Mancini, Doug Ferrari, Shang and Brian Posehn. Daun has been a licensed driver safety instructor and trainer with Comedy Defensive Driving for over 9 years. Her knowledge of driving safety laws keeps her readers informed and engaged with her blog adventures. She still continues to do stand-up comedy, sometimes in a reclining position...just to be different.