Young, inexperienced riders put at risk

Riding a bicycle is fun, good exercise and a great way to go green. However, it is important that cyclists pay attention to the safety norms, rules and regulations while on the road. If they don’t pay attention to safety rules, it could end up being a difficult activity and extremely dangerous as well.
Children cycling on a busy street are at higher risk because their degree of mobility, independence, limited traffic experience and key perceptual skills concerning traffic are not yet fully developed. Parents play an important role in minimising the risk by supervising and giving proper guidance.
Parents of these children who are cycling without care on a busy street of Nakheel area in Diera seem to have unrealistic expectations of their children’s street smarts.
I flinched every time this young, inexperienced, unsupervised cyclist turned and swerved, without warning, into the path of cars. Not only did he put his own life in danger, but he was also putting the life of another youngster at risk.
Timely prevention is better than healing their injuries once an accident occurs. The attitude that you as a parent instill in your child from a young age will determine how they will ride safely for years to come.
This reader is a sales manager based in Dubai.
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