In recent years, the all-terrain vehicle has held the top spot on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s list of most dangerous products. But now the number of deaths caused by ATVs has been overtaken by those associated with an item more familiar to the American family—the bicycle. The reason may be simple: More bikes, more accidents.
 
Bicycles are associated with an average of 900 deaths each year, a number that has remained relatively constant.  ATV deaths fell to roughly 800 for the past two years, according to Scott Wolfson, the CPSC’s director of media relations.

Because many more people ride them, bikes account for more injuries as well. The number of bicycle-related injuries that were treated in emergency rooms totaled 516,000 in 2008, the most recent year for which figures are available.  ER-treated ATV injuries totaled about 135,000 during that period.

Helmets are a must
Many bike accidents could be made less severe if more riders wore helmets, Wolfson said. “Helmets are a major factor in fatalities,” he noted. “Wearing a bicycle helmet decreases the risk of death by falling by 85 percent.” Take these precautions before you or your child hit the road this spring:

• Always wear a helmet. Buy one with a label or sticker saying that it meets the CPSC Bicycle Helmet standard. Helmets designed for other uses (skateboards, water sports, and the like) are tested using different standards and shouldn’t be worn while riding a bike.  Learn how to get a good fit.
• Keep your distance. When riding on the street, try keeping three to four feet between yourself and parked cars, says Daniel Brauer, manager of Mod Squad Cycles in Harlem, N.Y. The greater separation allows for a quicker reaction time, should a driver-side door open.
• See and be seen. Use reflectors and blinking lights when biking in low-light conditions. Brauer suggests placing the blinking lights in the front and back of the bike. He also suggests wearing reflectors or reflective clothing to increase your chances of being seen.

—Jehangir Irani

Related reading

• New safety act gets tough on ATVs
• ATV Safety.gov (A CPSC site)
• Bike injuries a common cause of trip to ER
• Bicycle buying guide