Sometimes during the summer months, children forget to practice traffic rules involving bicycle safety. Now that school is back in session, it’s time to brush up on some bicycle basics.
In California, anyone under the age of 18 is required to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle. Helmets help to lower the chances of severe damage to the head and brain. A properly fitted helmet is crucial to prevent a major injury.
To ensure full helmet safety, the Signal Hill Police Department recommends a few simple checks:
• Make sure the helmet is the proper size and adjust the pad so there is little space in between one’s head and the helmet.
• Ensure that the helmet sits level on your head, and adjust the chin strap to the helmet fits right.
One precaution often overlooked by children is to fasten the buckle on the chin strap. Children who fail to do so can be injured in an accident when their helmet comes off before they hit the ground.
The Signal Hill Police Department strongly urges the parents of children under 18 to follow traffic safety precautions. Police actively enforce bicycle safety laws, with the help of a traffic safety grant provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Association.
For more information on traffic safety, contact Traffic Officers Steve Owens and Al Spiegel at (562) 989-7200.
