| Bicycle tail lights aren't, by most, considered to be as | | | | just how important an issue bicycle safety is to them. |
| important as headlights. Bicycle headlights are required | | | | One incident of note was reported by The Amherst |
| to be seen from 100 feet away while a red reflector in | | | | Bulletin in Amherst Massachusetts. Kristy King, a 28 |
| the back is most commonly the minimum legal | | | | year old woman was struck by a car while riding her |
| requirement. Considering that safety, and the law, | | | | bicycle at night. The police found King to be at fault for |
| dictates that we ride in the same direction as traffic, | | | | the accident because she did not have lights on her |
| what drivers see when approaching a bicycle from | | | | bike; the driver just could not see her. The police also |
| behind can be the difference between life and death. | | | | noted that she was not wearing a helmet at the time |
| With growing numbers of bicycle safety awareness | | | | of the accident. Rob Kusner, a local bicycle safety |
| programs and increased reports of accidents, some | | | | advocate said "it's important for cyclists to both see |
| fatal, many cyclists have been choosing bright bicycle | | | | and be seen". Bicycle headlights are great for helping |
| tail lights over reflectors, regardless of what the legal | | | | you see while riding at night but this statement |
| requirements are. | | | | reinforces the necessity for bicycle tail lights over |
| Officer Dan McQuillin of Chandler Arizona's bike unit, | | | | reflectors. |
| speaking to his local newspaper, The Arizona Republic, | | | | An average of 689 bicyclists were killed each year in |
| said "new riders often don't educate themselves | | | | collisions with vehicles between 2000 and 2004, down |
| before taking to the road, and that can lead to | | | | from over 1,000 in 1975, according to the Insurance |
| dangerous results". Even though state law only | | | | Institute for Highway Safety. But now this number is |
| requires reflectors, he recommends red tail lights. Over | | | | rising again, 716 bicyclists were killed in traffic accidents |
| the course of one month, in Columbia Missouri, where | | | | in 2008. I know that this increase isn't a direct reflection |
| bicycle tail lights are required, the police department, | | | | on a lack of bicycle tail lights but it certainly shows that |
| instead of issuing tickets, gave away about 150 | | | | even with all the bicycle safety information available |
| headlight and tail light sets to cyclists who were | | | | we still need a big improvement in bicycle safety |
| stopped for riding at night without them. With the help | | | | awareness. |
| of a local business they were able to show the public | | | | |