Bicyclist Suffers Serious Injuries in Traunstein Collision with Car
A 25-year-old cyclist had a run-in with a car in Traunstein, leaving him with serious injuries. According to police reports, a 26-year-old driver failed to notice the cyclist while making a turn on Thursday evening. The cyclist, who wasn't wearing a helmet and had no lights on his bike, was taken to the hospital after sustaining broken bones.
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Understanding Bicycle Safety Regulations in Germany
Mandatory Safety Equipment
- Bright Lights: Cyclists must equip their bikes with a bright white front light that's StVZO-compliant and avoid using blinking lights. Be prepared to face a possible fine of 20 to 35€ if your bike lacks proper front illumination.
- Red Rear Light: Cyclists must mount red rear lights that don't blink, as blinking lights can be hazardous. Failure to perform this safety check may lead to a fine of up to 20€.
- Reflectors: Combine white reflector front illumination, red reflector rear illumination, and yellow reflectors on the spokes and pedals to ensure safety. Cyclists risk fines of up to 20€ if they don't meet these requirements.
- Bell: Attach a bell to your handlebars and ensure it's easily reachable. Without a bell, you'll face a 15€ fine.
- Functioning Brakes: Make sure your bicycle's brakes are in excellent working condition. A 10€ penalty awaits you if not.
Road Rules for Cyclists
- Sidewalk Compliance: Children 8 and below must ride on pedestrian paths. Cycle on streets if blue bicycle path signs are absent. Adults violating this rule may receive a fine of 55€.
- Bicycle Path Use: On streets with blue signs, cyclists must follow the path. Ignoring these signs leads to a fine of 20€.
- Hand Signals: Use hand signals before turning left or right. Fail to communicate your intentions and face fines of 10 to 35€.
- Riding in Groups: Two cyclists can ride abreast unless they're obstructing traffic. The same rule applies if you're slowing down the flow of vehicles. Riding two abreast and blocking traffic accumulates a fine of 20€.
Additional Rules and Regulations
- Prioritizing Transportation Vehicles: Cyclists must yield to bus and tram passengers.
- Bus Lanes: Cyclists cannot occupy bus lanes unless notified otherwise. Cyclists caught using the reserved bus lane will be charged 15€.
- Red Lights: Consequently, cyclists must follow red lights and not cross until granted permission. Cyclists who violate this rule receive a fine of 90€ and face the penalty of one Flensburg point.
- Phone Usage: It's prohibited for cyclists to use their phones while pedaling. Making calls while riding results in a 55€ fine.
- Headphones: Limited use of headphones is acceptable, but using them may cause unnecessary problems in the event of accidents.
- Handlebars: Cyclists must leave their hands on the handlebars at all times. Withholding proper hand grip might subject you to undergo the 5€ fine.
- Prohibited Areas: Areas marked with "Verboten zum Radfahren" signs forbid bicycle entry. Cyclists found using prohibited areas face a 15€ fine.
Helmets and Insurance
Mandatory Helmet Use
Unfortunately, helmets are not mandatory for cyclists in Germany, although riding with a helmet is strongly advised for safety reasons.
Liability Insurance
While not obligatory, liability insurance is highly recommended for cyclists, as it mitigates legal and financial consequences in the event of accidents.
By respecting traffic regulations, cyclists can significantly lessen the likelihood of occasions like the one in Traunstein, ensuring a safe and enjoyable ride.
