It can be easy for children—and even parents—to see their bicycle as a toy. The reality is that bikes are not toys. In fact, more children ages 5 to 14 go to hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with bicycles than with any other sport. Despite the obvious dangers, riding a bike is a wonderful activity for kids. For younger kids, it improves coordination, provides exercise and is a fun activity that the whole family can do together. For older kids, riding a bike gives them the chance to be independent. You can teach your kids to understand that biking should be a whole lot of fun—with a healthy dose of caution.
The key to keeping your children out of bicycle accidents is knowing their limitations. Remember—children are not small adults. Children simply do not have the cognitive abilities that adult riders do. Here’s some examples:
- Children are not able to use their peripheral vision as adults do, and particularly children in grades K-3 have trouble spotting objects in their peripheral vision.
- Children do not naturally use sound to identify where traffic is coming from, and instead rely solely on their vision.
- Children are unable to grasp the complexity of many traffic situations. For example, they might believe that a road is safe because they cannot see any cars present, despite a nearby blind curve.
- Children are easily distracted and have poor impulse control. They may not understand the serious consequences of crossing a road without waiting for the light to change or the road to clear.
- Children believe that adults are responsible for their safety, and will look out for them, even a stranger driving an oncoming car.
Knowledge of your child’s limits is just one part of keeping them safe on the road. The Consumer Rights Alliance is dedicated to protecting children from bicycle accidents. You can find out more about keeping your kids safe here.