Certified CenterSummer is in full swing and students who have yet to become licensed drivers are flocking to the streets to carry on their social lives, and many of them are on their bikes. Safety remains our primary concern here at Fields BMW Lakeland, not only for the customers who drive home in a BMW vehicle, but also for the drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists with whom they share the road. Here are five tips to keep in mind when your 2015 BMW 328i passes bicyclists on Winter Haven roads.
1. Recognize that bicyclists are often in greater danger than drivers. On the unfortunate occasion when a collision does occur between a driver and a cyclist, you can be certain that the cyclist is always prone to greater danger. Understanding this difference in perspective is likely to make you more cautious when driving near cyclists.
2. Maintain three feet of clearance from cyclists. This space is required by law in many states and should operate as a general rule of thumb for drivers.
3. Refrain from checking your phone behind the wheel. While this is another reliable general rule, it is even more important to bear in mind when you're sharing the road with cyclists. Avoiding your phone's screen will keep you more aware of your surroundings and more likely to notice and respect the presence of a cyclist.
4. Turn with caution. Intersections become especially worrisome when bicycles are involved. Always be sure to use a turn signal and remain on the lookout for cyclists who are sending out their own turn signals -- a raised left hand or extended right arm.
5. Look around before exiting the vehicle. Cyclists must often anticipate when a parked and seemingly unoccupied car will suddenly block their path with an open door. Do your part to help cyclists out by checking that none are coming down the street before you open the door of your new BMW vehicle to exit.