As Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends, everyone who navigates Los Angeles area roads and freeways needs a bit of time to adjust to the added hour of darkness in the early evening and the additional early morning sunlight – even as the hours of daylight continue to decrease. The change in daylight hours can be particularly risky for those who bike either for exercise or to commute to and from work in the mornings and evenings.
Making sure that you can see and be seen is especially critical. Some drivers may not be used to turning on their headlights on their way home from work. That can make it harder to spot a cyclist. People whose “body clocks” take some time to adjust to the gain of an hour may not be as alert as they need to be.
Even the morning hours can be more dangerous. Nothing can blind a driver (or cyclist) like suddenly having to travel into the sunrise.
Being visible is crucial
Fortunately, there’s plenty of equipment cyclists can use to make themselves more visible. This includes front and rear lights for the bike – preferably with adjustable settings and a flashing mode. It’s always important to keep an eye on the battery level for these lights or change them regularly to avoid having them die unexpectedly.
Reflective clothing and accessories add extra visibility from the sides. These include reflective stripes on jackets, vests and shoes.
Certainly, it’s a driver’s responsibility to keep an eye out for everyone with whom they’re sharing the road – especially cyclists and pedestrians, who are especially vulnerable. If you or a loved one is injured by a negligent or reckless driver, it’s wise to get experienced legal guidance as soon as possible to help maximize your compensation for medical bills and other expenses and damages.
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