Welcome to May’s Community Safety Zone!
This months Safety Column offers tips for cyclists. Helmets are an important piece of safety equipment. Here are some tips:
- Cyclists under 18 must, according to law, wear a helmet in Ontario.
- The helmet should have a CSA, CPSC, Snell B-95, or N-94 certification sticker.
- Ensure the helmet fits snugly and that is sits 2 finger widths above your eyebrows.
- The straps should meet in a “V” just below your ears and there should be no more than 2 finger width space between your chin and the strap.
- Replace your helmet if it has received any strong impact, even if damage isn’t visible on the outside, or if its greater than 5 years old.
- All bikes must be equipped with an alarm, horn or bell.
- By law, when riding at night or in low visibility, your bike needs to be equipped with a white light in the front and a red rear reflector or light.
- Cyclists , like any other vehicle operator, have the same rights and duties as motorists including stopping at all stop signs and red lights, signalling lane changes with hand signals and driving on the right side of the road. It is unsafe and illegal to ride your bike on the sidewalk.
We appreciate hearing your comments, receiving your concerns and taking suggestions for future Community Safety Zone topics.
Please feel free to email us at safety@navan.on.ca