Rhonda Shah: Hi! I am Rhonda Shah with AAA, and I have some of my young friends here with me today to talk about what it means to be a good Roll Model.

AAA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have partnered to help parents and adults put the brakes on child bike fatalities. Everyday an average of a 140 bicyclists are injured or killed in traffic crashes. With helmet use among bicyclist between 20% and 25%, we have an opportunity to reduce injuries and deaths by encouraging more riders to protect themselves.

Did you know that when worn properly, helmets are up to 85% effective in protecting the head and brain in the event of a crash? AAA and NHTSA want to remind parents and caregivers to set positive examples that encourage children and teens to ride safely.

According to NHTSA among children, 10-14 year old boys have the highest rate of injuries and fatalities. Here are four easy steps to bicyclists of all ages safe.

First, wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet. Wear your helmet properly level on your head and low on your forehead, no more than two finger-widths above your eyebrow. It might be a good idea to develop a family rule for helmet use and enforce it for every ride.

Remember, it's never too late to start wearing a helmet.

Second, Always Follow the Rules of the Road. Bikes are considered vehicles and must abide by the same traffic laws as motorists. Obey all traffic signs and signal your intention when turning or passing. Always ride in the same direction as traffic, keeping to the right.

Next, Make Yourself Visible. Wear bright colors during daylight hours and wear reflective materials on clothing and equipment in low-light conditions. Use white front lights, red rear reflectors and reflective material on clothing and equipment when riding at night. And whenever possible, parents should discourage children from riding at night.

And last, Drive Respectfully and Share the Road. Focus exclusively on the road while driving. Distracted drivers could be deadly for bicyclists. Be patient and pass bicyclists only when it's safe to do so, leaving a 3-5 foot clearance between your vehicle and the bike.

Remember, be a good Roll Model and help save a life. You can find more information on bike safety sites such as sharetheroad.

aaa.

com and nhtsa.

gov.

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