New Hampshire laws governing where, when, and how residents can ride bicycles on public streets exist for several reasons. One of the biggest is to protect the safety of bicyclists of all ages in order to prevent accidents or reduce the risk of serious injury if an accident does occur.
New Hampshire law requires riders under the age of 16 to wear a bicycle helmet approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC approval means the helmet meets the minimum required safety standards. Because children need to wear helmets at all times while on their bikes, the New Hampshire Highway Safety Agency recommends having children help choose their own helmets in order to ensure a proper fit.
Bicyclists are allowed to ride on New Hampshire streets as long as they follow the same rules as motor vehicles. These rules include traveling on the right-hand side of the road and stopping at all stop signs and red lights. Bicyclists who use the roads but fail to follow traffic safety rules may be ticketed. In addition, bicyclists in New Hampshire are expected to stop when pulled over by police officers. The New Hampshire Highway Safety Agency also recommends that children under the age of nine be prohibited from riding on the road since they have not yet developed the critical thinking skills or physical reflexes needed to make quick decisions to avoid an accident.
Following the rules can help bicyclists stay safe, but it can’t always prevent an accident. If you’ve been injured in a bike crash, the experienced New Hampshire accident attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help. Call us today at (888) 332-5855 for a free telephone consultation.