Safety tips for cyclists and motorists

Here are some tips for staying safe while cycling.

Make eye contact with drivers.
Regularly check behind you.
Check your bike regularly – brakes, tyres, chain, reflectors and lights.
Wear an approved helmet. Make sure it fits firmly and keep it done up. If your helmet gets dented or broken in a crash or dropped heavily, replace it.
Work on your bike skills. Practise away from traffic.
Make sure you can be seen – bright-coloured clothes, lights and reflectors all help.
Ride at least one metre out from parked cars, and watch for drivers opening doors.
Occupy the centre of the traffic lane when the road width requires it, or when you need to position yourself for a turn.
Scan ahead for potential hazards like potholes, drain gratings, pedestrians or drivers who have not seen you.
Know the road rules and follow them.
Be predictable. Ride in as smooth a line as possible.
Where possible, choose a safe route.

Here are some tips about driving and cyclists.

Take special care when driving near a cyclist – slow down when passing them.
Be prepared for them to move without warning.
Indicate clearly and in plenty of time when turning and stopping.
Cycles are vehicles and have as much right to be on the road as you.
Know your blind spots, especially when driving vans, trucks or buses, and check again for cyclists.
Take another look at intersections. Cycles are smaller than other vehicles, and many drivers who hit them claim not to have seen them.
Avoid overtaking a cyclist just before you turn at an intersection.
Take care when passing cyclists on the open road. Slow down and ideally, leave at least 1.5 metres of space between you and the cyclist.
Check rear-view mirrors and look over your shoulder before you open a car door at the road side.
Don’t insist on your right of way, even when the cyclist is in the wrong.
Slow down and be alert when visibility is reduced. Cyclists are often hard to see, and are even more so in the rain or in low-light conditions.