With many people working at home these days, the streets have been emptier than normal — and some folks are taking the opportunity to turn their cars into hot rods.
California has seen a massive uptick in the number of speeding tickets being issued to drivers who were clocked going more than 100 miles an hour. In the 30-day period following March 19, California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers ticketed 2,439 drivers who were moving at that speed, which is an increase of 87% over the same time last year.
If you’re a bicyclist, you don’t need us to tell you that speeding cars are a major problem. The faster a vehicle is going, the harder it is for the driver to scan the surrounding roads and spot a cyclist. It’s also much harder for a speeding driver to stop their vehicle, should they need to do so in order to prevent an accident — or even respond to traffic signals.
At higher speeds, the force of any accident is also amplified. If the vehicle collides with a bicyclist, the odds that the cyclist will suffer permanent or fatal injuries drastically increases.
When the roads are “Sunday morning empty,” they can be a bicyclist’s dream. There’s a serene feeling that comes with gliding through a cityscape unencumbered by heavy traffic. Unfortunately, one speeding vehicle can end your dreams — possibly forever.
Be conscious of the fact that there are an unusual number of reckless drivers out there on the roads these days, and take extra precautions to avoid a serious wreck, such as wearing extra-visible clothing and using extreme care at intersections.
If an accident does occur, make sure that you understand all of your legal rights regarding seeking compensation.
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