Cyclist deaths | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

It is no surprise that the most common explanation for a cyclist/motorist accident is that a cyclist is difficult to see, especially at night. Using lights and bright reflective ware has increased my visibility to motorists, helping to ensure my safety on the road.

House Bill 299 attempts to alter the probability of bicycle/motor vehicle accidents by requiring cyclists to be readily equipped with lamps, reflective ware and other nighttime provisions.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, in 2010, 618 pedalcyclists were killed and an additional 52,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes: "The majority of pedalcyclist fatalities, 174 (28 percent) occurred between the hours of 4 p.m. and 7:59 p.m. The second-highest number of fatalities, 152 (25 percent) occurred between the hours of 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m."

A law will never prevent all accidents. However, lowering the list of fatalities even by one would count as a victory.

Monica Martell

Salt Lake City