Do Cyclists Have Right of Way?

The line between the rights of motorists and cyclist is blurry. And most road users don’t tend to completely understand them. But in many states in the US, the traffic laws treat bicycles as vehicles to minimize confusion on the road. While laws may vary from one state to another, bicyclists must understand them to keep safe on the road.

In this regard, our Mount Pleasant, SC, accidents attorneys will take an in-depth dive into vital aspects that protect cyclists on South Carolina roads.

What are the Laws Regulating Cyclists and Drivers in South Carolina?

In the state of South Carolina, just like many other states in the US, laws that apply to cars also do the same for bicycles with exceptions where they can’t be applied. The South Carolina Vehicle Code grants equal responsibilities and privileges to motorists and cyclists.

A cyclist must stop at a cross sign to yield way to pedestrians just as vehicles do. Bicycles should comply with the stop sign, which is quite uncommon practice with many riders in South Carolina. Additionally, they must use hand-signal before turning and should flow with traffic.

When the yield sign directs them to give way, they should comply with the signal. On the motorist part, they should be extra careful when making a right turn, especially when there is a cyclist in the bicycle lane. When a bicycle is approaching an intersection, and a motorist is making a left turn, they must yield the right of way to the cyclist. Riders should also yield right of way to any oncoming traffic.

However, cyclists should not assume because the law guarantees the right of way, that motorists will automatically do so. Sometimes the driver may be distracted or maybe the cyclist is in the vehicle’s blind spot and inconspicuous.

Cyclists have now Better Priorities

Not long ago, drivers were only required to give way to pedestrians and cyclists at a crossing. But since the state of South Carolina started treating bicycles as vehicles, motorists had to do better than that. Now more than ever, cyclists need to understand the revised traffic rules to understand their rights on the road. Likewise, they should abide by the rules themselves and avoid the carefree attitude associated with this group of road users.

How can both Parties Share the Road Safely and Effectively?

For our roads to be safe, there must be mutual respect between motorists and cyclists. But in most cases, bicyclists are the vulnerable group and most collisions are a result of vehicle fault rather than the former group. Apart from suffering from irreversible injuries, cyclists suffer the trauma of near misses that are just dismissed.

To make our roads safe for both groups, the road users should be aware of all the traffic laws. And by following the rules, not only will the cyclist be safe, but it would greatly minimize the annoying and frightening non-injury incidents. Motorists and cyclists should be keen and aware of everything on the road and maintain high visibility at all times.

What should you do if You’re Involved in a Collision with a Cyclist?

Regardless of how good a driver you’re, accidents are sometimes inevitable—and you may sometimes hit a cyclist. The experience is traumatizing and stressful for both parties. It doesn’t matter whoever fault it was, if you’re involved in such an incident, stop at a safe place and call an ambulance and the police.

Let the victim get medical attention and every time try to keep the situation under control. If the cyclist is conscious and not badly injured, you can swap details. Let your insurer know of the accident even though the scenario may affect the rate of your policy premium rates.

What can Cyclists do to Increase their Safety on the Road?

Cyclists are among the most vulnerable groups on the road. Cyclists are dying through gruesome road accidents in the US every day. While the law protects this group of individuals, distracted and reckless drivers are significantly contributing to the rising number of cyclists’ body counts. That’s why cyclists should take proactive steps to protect themselves.

They should comply with all the traffic laws that protect them. Getting more education on the road regulations is a great plus. Cyclists should always let other motorists know of their presence on the road.

Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.