Every day, people who live in or visit the United States choose automobile alternatives to travel on the nation’s roads. For health, financial and additional reasons, many of them opt for smaller forms of transportation like bicycles, skateboards and scooters. Yet, these options fail to offer the external protection of an automobile. As a result, vulnerable road users are at higher risk of suffering serious injuries or dying in a traffic accident, especially when interacting with new drivers.
This guide covers everything new drivers need to know about sharing the road with users of automobile alternatives. Read on to learn more…
Data Reveals Grim Outcomes
Traffic accident injuries and deaths among road users who travel via alternative forms of transportation designed for one or two people have increased in recent years. According to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the U.S. has seen a five-fold or 8% increase in deaths of bicyclists aged 20 and older since 1975.
In 2022, these deaths made up 2% of all fatalities, the highest number seen ever. Incidents involving e-scooters and e-bikes also increased that year. Approximately 89% of the bicyclist deaths occurred with riders aged 20 and older. Additionally, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the country experienced a 13% increase in deaths, or 129 more fatalities, among pedalcyclists who used manual bikes and an 18% increase in deaths, or 40 more fatalities, from hit-and-run incidents in 2022, as compared to 2021 data.
Common Causes of Traffic Accidents
Accidents involve drivers of all ages and levels of experience. Distraction and failure to yield the right of way are common causes of the ones that involve vulnerable road users. Even an experienced driver might look away from the road for a moment for any reason, such as to answer a call, fiddle with a radio, interact with a passenger or pet, or pick up something out of reach. Some drivers also risk people’s lives with alcohol and drug usage. Some aggressive drivers believe that users of smaller forms of transportation should always yield the right of way.
New drivers often have difficulty with distractions because they haven’t fully developed the skills needed to drive safely. They’re unused to federal, state and local driving rules. New teen drivers pose an even greater risk to vulnerable road users. Teens going through physical, cognitive and emotional changes are often more easily distracted by everything inside and outside of their vehicles. They’re more willing to break speed limits, fail to yield and take risks as well.
Ways New Drivers Can Protect Vulnerable Road Users
Accidents don’t always occur because of the actions of drivers. Small methods of transportation allow for greater maneuverability. Users of bikes, skateboards and scooters often approach roads and any nearby sidewalks in risky ways. Many cities, such as San Francisco, have laws regulating the use of non-motorized, wheeled transportation, including lane use, sidewalk use, helmet use and regulations for stopping, yielding and impeding traffic. All riders have a responsibility to educate themselves on these laws, but they may ignore traffic rules or weave in and out between vehicles, pedestrians and anything else in their paths.
That said, a new automobile driver has a responsibility to drive safely. It doesn’t matter if they’re driving a microcar or a pickup truck. To prevent harm to vulnerable road users, they must use caution while driving on highways, streets and other thoroughfares. They need to yield the right of way when it’s appropriate and actively maintain awareness of their surroundings in front of them and at the periphery of their vision.
To improve awareness, they need to follow speed limits and even slow down below those limits at times, especially when following a vulnerable road user, approaching or leaving an intersection, and traveling through busy or congested urban and suburban areas. Since some accidents happen with stopped or parked motor vehicles, they and any passengers must also always look in all directions at stop signs and before opening a car door or loading or unloading a vehicle along the side of a road or sidewalk and in parking lots.
Article Last Updated: March 11, 2025.
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