Photo by Steve Long on Unsplash

Without the protective shielding of a car, cyclists are vulnerable road users. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were “53,000 bicyclists injured in motor vehicle crashes on public roadways in the United States” in 2024. If one of those crashes involves a driver operating a vehicle on behalf of a fleet company, that company’s liability exposure just shot up.

When bicycles go up against cars, the cyclist always loses. That’s why it’s vital for drivers to take extra care around vulnerable road users. There are many high-risk situations that drivers should avoid in order to keep cyclists safe and ensure everyone makes it home at the end of the day.

The Rear-End

When driving behind a cyclist, leave a large gap between them and your vehicle. If they swerve, stop, or even fall, you need to have a buffer of space to stop safely.

It is also dangerous to stop short in front of a cyclist. If they cannot stop in time, they may run into the back of your vehicle and be seriously injured or even killed. You should be periodically checking your mirrors whenever you drive, and if you see a cyclist behind you, remember to brake gradually and gently. Try to keep track of their movements so you don’t lose sight of them in your blind spot and end up in a collision with them.

The Sideswipe

Larger vehicles are more likely to be involved in cyclist collisions than smaller vehicles due to their large blind spots. Vehicles with high front ends, like some pickup trucks, even have blind spots directly in front of them that could hide a smaller cyclist.

The most dangerous area for a cyclist is in a car’s blind spot, as this is where they are most likely to get sideswiped, which can cause them to fall off their bike and get seriously injured or even killed.

Without dedicated bike lanes, sideswipe collisions are more likely. Separating cyclists from motor vehicles helps protect them from these collisions. There are two common types of bike lanes: traditional painted lanes and separated and protected lanes, which create a physical barrier between vehicles and cyclists, such as poles or curbs. The greater the separation between cyclists and traffic, the safer cyclists are.

Unfortunately, bike lanes aren’t always present on or separated from roadways, so give cyclists plenty of space and be patient. If you must pass a cyclist, always leave at least 3 feet of space between your car and them.

The Right Hook

Driving on the right with cyclists on your right side creates a serious collision risk called a “right hook.” A right hook happens when a car turns right across the path of a cyclist, cutting them off, colliding with them directly, or forcing them to swerve or crash into the side of the car to avoid being hit.

Video by Osioreame Ikiebe

A right hook often occurs because of a driver’s failure to check their blind spot when turning right. If you’re driving beside a bike lane, think of it as another lane of the road. When you want to turn right, treat it as if you’re turning right from the left lane. You have to check that there’s no traffic there before you try to cross.

If you want to make a right turn, check your mirror first to see if there is a cyclist approaching. If there is, yield the right-of-way to them. Always signal in advance, slow down, check your blind spot to judge if you can cross over without impeding anyone, and then turn carefully.

Even if you are in a dedicated right-turn lane, don’t assume you’re free to turn. A cyclist could still be beside you, expecting to go straight through the intersection – even if they shouldn’t be there. Assumptions are dangerous. Shoulder checks aren’t just for lane changes. Check your mirrors, signal, and check your blind spot every time.

There are many ways cyclists can and should protect themselves from harm, but the responsibility to share the road is not theirs alone. Drivers must remain vigilant of vulnerable road users so they do not harm anyone. This includes yielding to cyclists who aren’t protected by a bike lane barrier or even a painted line.

“Solutions include building median islands, creating bike lanes, installing flashing beacons at crosswalks, illuminating crosswalks at night and adjusting traffic signals to give pedestrians and bicyclists a head start.”

-Raul Avelar, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

In many places, cyclists and drivers still have to share the road. In order to stay safe and help keep each other safe too, we must all be predictable, courteous, and alert.

Sources:

https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/pedestrians-and-bicyclists

https://www.thewisedrive.com/avoiding-the-right-hook/