Toll Free: 1-800-373-8000
Kids and Bike Safety-Know the Law!
Parents, guardians, and children are responsible for Florida state (F.S. 316.2065(2008)) and local bicycle laws. Teach your children these rules - and it just might save their life.
Children are especially vulnerable to bicycle accidents. A properly fitted helmet can reduce the risk of a head injury by 85 %, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA). Plus, more children ages 5 to 14 visit the emergency room for bike accidents than any other sport-many of these injuries involve the head and brain. Here are the laws for kids and bikes:
- Any bicyclist or bike passenger who is younger than 16 year of age must wear a properly fitted helmet that is securely fastened by a strap and complies with nationally recognized safety standards for bike helmets. Child passengers riding in bike a trailer also must wear a helmet.
- Anyone riding a bike must keep at least one hand on the handlebars.
- A bike must have brakes.
- The number of passengers on a bike is restricted to the amount that the bike was deigned for-no passengers on the handle bars or standing behind the seat.
- A bike must be equipped with a bell or another signaling device that can alert a pedestrian when passing on a sidewalk or roadway.
- A bicyclist may not attach them self or be pulled by any other vehicle, including a car, truck, or another bike. (The same applies for riding on a coaster, roller skates, sled, or a toy vehicle).
- A bicyclist may not wear headphones, headsets, or i-pods while riding.
- A bicyclist must carry a child who is 4 years of age or younger or who weighs less than 40 pounds in an appropriately designed seat or carrier.
- A child may not remain in a bike seat or carrier when the bicyclist is not in immediate control of the bike.
- A child may ride in an appropriately designed trailer attached to the rear of a bike.
- A parent or guardian must not knowingly allow a child or minor to violate any of these rules.
For more information:
Child Cyclists and Motor Vehicles - Safety Tips to Save a Child's Life
Bicyclists - Know the Law and Stay Alive
NHTSA-How to fit a Helmet:
I am local Accident Attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, and I strongly believe that public education is the first step in the prevention of and/or recovery from a serious accident.
My Office and I take pride in our work, and the results we get for our clients.
The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury lawyers, litigators and trial lawyers that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 37 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in their practice as accident attorneys.
We have been proudly representing injured accident victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Daytona Beach, Dunnellon, Palatka, The Villages, and Alachua County, Marion County, Columbia County, Citrus County, Volusia County, Sumter County, Putnam County and the entire North and Central Florida since 1971.
For more information on how we can help you, or with any other question you may have, feel free to contact my Office at 1 800 373 8000.
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Jeffrey Meldon & Associates, PA
703 North Main Street
Suite A
Gainesville, FL 32601
Phone: (352) 373-8000
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Toll Free: (800) 373-8000
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