ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – It’s only a few weeks until students in Central Florida head back to school — and that means there will be more kids on the streets either walking or riding their bicycles to school.
In the last few years, there have been several student deaths.
Last May, 10-year-old Shaolan Kamaly was hit and killed while riding her bike to Sugar Mill Elementary in Port Orange, which led to safety changes in several city schools. Last October, 17-year-old Sherman Vannoy was killed when he was hit by a school bus while riding his bike to Lake Minneola High School. Back in 2019, 10-year-old Kevin Pope was crossing the street with his bike near Weatherbee Elementary in Orlando when he was hit and killed by a semi-truck.
The Florida Highway Patrol said there’s been nearly 900 bicycle crashes in Central Florida this year. Last year, there were just over 1,600 with 49 of those resulting in death.
So News 6′s Mark Lehman spoke with News 6 Traffic Safety Analyst Trooper Steve Montiero about tips to help children stay safe.
- Stay visible-- you can get flashers for your bike as well as wear a reflective safety vest
- Obey the rules of the road-- pay attention to all traffic signs and signals. When a bicyclist is in the roadway, they must obey all traffic laws.
- Cross in crosswalks
- Use a bike lane whenever possible
- Always wear a proper-fitting helmet
“It’s the little things that cause the biggest injuries. It’s not wearing the helmet and falling down. Maybe hitting a curb or not having lights on a bike and that driver not being able to see you,” Montiero said.
When it comes to properly fitting helmets, the best way to figure it out the correct size is by using a simple measuring tape.
“Measure their head in centimeters and you’re going to measure from just above the crown and go around the widest portion just above the ears. Once you get the measurement, look for the measurement ranges listed on the box or packaging of the helmet to make sure it’s the proper size,” Orange Cycle sales associate Richard Pacheco said.
You also want to be sure your child is wearing the helmet properly.
“You have to make sure that when you wear the helmet, that the front of the helmet is about an inch or two above the eyebrows. You don’t want it sitting on the back of the head because if you crash, you’ll hit your forehead,” Pacheco said.
Also make sure to buckle and adjust the chin straps and back knob so that the helmet is snug.
Another tip, if you’re fitting your child’s helmet and it’s a bit uncomfortable for them, you can always adjust the foam inserts inside the helmet and replace them with thinner or thicker padding. Just be sure the helmet is secure and doesn’t move or fall off when they tilt their head down.
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