As the number of cyclists in Lithuania grows, the issues of their road safety are becoming more and more important. One of the biggest problems remains the visibility of cyclists on the road, especially at night.
A study commissioned by insurance company Ergo, joined by social campaign NeVaikuok, initiated by DELFI, found that pedestrians (80 percent) and cyclists (76 percent) were the most intimidated by the road at night. Another 38% survey respondents indicated that motorcyclists account for the majority of night-time dangerous situations on the road. As much as 82 percent of survey respondents identified the most dangerous cycling situation on the road as cycling in the dark without lights or reflective elements. Police officers, traffic safety experts, and the cycling community admit that such situations are all too common.
Every second driver was in danger The survey also revealed that every third driver in the dark at least once a day was able to avoid a collision with a visually impaired cyclist. “Every year, together with the cycling community, the Lithuanian police and IKI Velomarathon, we carry out various initiatives, the main aim of which is to increase the safety of cyclists in traffic. This year, we have tackled a major security issue and are launching a ‘Light the Bike’ initiative. One of the most important conditions for safe traffic is to be visible. For a car with no lights at night is a major road safety threat – no doubt, but cycling without mandatory reflectors and lights is still commonplace for many. It is time to change that attitude. We will try to remind you of the reflective elements and lights that bicyclists must have to stay safe on the road,” says Tad Dovbyš, CEO of the insurance company.
According to Dolby, the use of these measures would significantly reduce the risk of road accidents. The organizers of the initiative will also seek to ensure that road users perceive the necessary rules not as statutory rules but as a means of protecting their health and lives. The intention is to highlight the effectiveness of the different safety features, to provide practical tips to help prevent accidents on the road and to change cyclists’ attitudes to the rules of the road.
Disaster is unavoidable and this year’s current Road Traffic Code requires a bicycle rider to wear a bright-colored safety vest with reflective tapes or white light on the front of a bicycle and a red light on the back of the bicycle. When driving on the road at night or in poor visibility, the bicycle must have a white light on the front and a red light on the back of the bicycle, and the bicycle rider must wear a bright vest with reflective materials.
Chief of the Lithuanian Road Police Service Vytautas Grašys says that two cyclists were killed this year due to a collision with a car during the dark hours of the day. In total, 112 car and bike collisions were recorded in the first six months of this year. “During the dark hours of the day, driving conditions are always more difficult than during the day, and if some road users become completely invisible in the dark, traveling can be risky, especially for a road user who is hard to see. Cyclists on the road without reflectors and lights are often unaware of the danger not only to themselves but also to others. They think the road is well lit and the distance to the destination is short, so nothing bad will happen. But practice shows something else. For this reason, it is necessary to do everything that is up to the road user, in this case the bicycle driver, to feel safe on the road. Ie. the use of reflective elements and lamps is obligatory,” says V.Grasys. Vaidas Rimkus, a bicycle school spokesman and cycling trainer at Vilnius Cycling School, says safety is not only the danger of a car failing to see it, but also the cyclist himself can enter the pit without seeing the road. , colliding with a curb or other obstacle. “Cyclists do not often buy expensive bikes, but they are worth a dozen or tens of euros for proper lights and reflectors. Others believe that reflectors and lights do not fit the style of the bike, damaging its aesthetic appearance. However, security should always be a top priority. In addition, good visibility is required not only when driving in the driveway, but also when cycling, in parks – they can be used not only by pedestrians, but also by residents on scooters, in wheelchairs by moms. Facing them can also end very painfully,” says Rimkus. Just as Ingelevičius, a member of the Lithuanian Cycling Society, adds that there are plenty of opportunities to properly prepare a bike for riding today, so in most cases, neglect of one’s visibility is due to simple irresponsibility. “An increasing number of cyclists are taking to the streets, but some are not yet aware that a bicycle is a vehicle that is also subject to traffic rules and regulations. They are not designed just for themselves, but to ensure the highest level of safety for all road users. Educating cyclists, raising their awareness as well as enforcing road traffic regulations can help to solve these problems. It is also important to develop safe road infrastructure. Unfortunately, speed and throughput are often still more important than traffic safety,” says Ingelevičius.
Initiative justified by “IKI Velomarathon” racer Benediktas Vanagas points out that the culture of safe cycling in Lithuania is growing, and this has been accompanied by the constant attention to various aspects of cycling safety in recent years. As a result, efforts to raise awareness of the visibility of cyclists on the road are, in his view, also very necessary and capable of changing the situation for the better. “I am noticing that the safety situation is improving – more and more cyclists are overlooking the helmet as they get off the road, they move their bicycle down the aisle and behave more responsibly in general. Car drivers are also becoming more aware – the issue of safe cycling raised last year, I believe, has led some drivers to choose a greater distance when cycling. Therefore, I believe that by joint efforts of cyclists and car drivers, police, business promoting a safe traffic culture, we can solve the problems of bicycle visibility on the roads,” says Vanagas.