Training Wheels or Not, Remind Your Children About How to Stay Safe On Their Bikes

Sept. 15, 2011 - PRLog -- September 15, 2011 -- Remember the independence you felt as a child when coasting along on your bike? Even with training wheels, riding a bike creates a sense of fun and exhilaration that’s hard to beat. Unfortunately, that exhilaration can lead children into harm’s way if they aren’t taught to practice bike safety.

”Although kids might not see it this way, a bike is a vehicle, not a toy,” says Allstate New Jersey Exclusive Agent Marc Ludwig.“ Riding a bike can be tremendous fun, but it also can be dangerous. Parents who teach their kids a few simple bike safety rules will go a long way in protecting their kids’ safety.

Allstate Insurance Company recommends that you review the following bike safety tips with your children:

Use Your Head—Wear a Helmet!
Most bike-related deaths result from head injuries. Kids can prevent most serious head injuries by wearing a bike helmet. Children learn by example, so it’s important that parents practice good bike safety habits and wear a helmet themselves when they ride.

Look In All Directions Before Entering or Crossing a Street

Most crashes between a car and a bike happen at intersections and driveways, so keep your eyes open when entering these areas. Look out, too, for parked cars. Drivers in parked cars could pull into traffic or open their doors into a bike rider’s path.

Ride In the Direction of Traffic
Riders should stay on the right side of the street near the curb and walk their bicycles across busy streets.

Be Visible
Kids should attach a fluorescent-colored flag on a flexible pole to their bike and wear brightly colored helmets and clothes to make themselves more visible. Kids should not ride their bikes at night.

Make Sure the Bike Fits

Riding a bike that’s the too big or too small makes it easier for a child to lose control and become injured. Check with a local bike shop to have your child fitted to his or her bike.

Protect Your Bike
Just as you would with your car, have your kids lock their bikes when they leave them. The best protection against bike theft is a chain and lock.

For more information on bike safety or other safety topics, contact Allstate New Jersey Exclusive Agent Marc Ludwig at (609) 645-6999 or marcludwig@allstate.com.

About Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company

Known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company and its affiliates help individuals in more than a half million New Jersey households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 270 agents and financial representatives. Customers can access Allstate New Jersey products and services through Allstate agencies, or at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.

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