11 ways How to not get hit by a car
1. Get a headlight. If you're riding at night, you should absolutely use a front headlight. It's required by law, anyway. For daytime riding, a bright white light that has a flashing mode can make you more visible. A rear light is a must also, blinking in the day to get their attention and solid at night is my recommendation.
2. Honk. Get a loud horn and USE IT whenever you see a car approaching (or waiting) ahead of you and to the right. If you don't have a horn, then yell "Hey!" You may feel awkward honking or yelling, but it's better to be embarrassed than to get hit, you need to be seen or at least heard -GET NOTICED- instead of hit.
3. Slow down. If you can't make eye contact with the driver (especially at night), slow down so much that you're able to completely stop if you have to. Sure, it's inconvenient, but it beats getting hit.
4.Ride to the left. Ride far enough to the left that you won't run into any door that's opened unexpectedly. You may be wary about riding so far into the lane that cars can't pass you easily, but you're MUCH more likely to get doored by a parked car if you ride too close to it, than you are to get hit from behind by a car which can clearly see you.
5.Don't stop in the blind spot. Simply stop BEHIND a car, instead of to the right of it, stay in traffic lane. This makes you very visible to traffic on all sides. Pick the car that is going the way you're going and maintain the traffic pattern to get through with the normal flow as predictably as possible. This will help make it smooth and safe.
6.Don't ride on the sidewalk. When you come off the sidewalk to cross the street you're invisible to motorists. You're just begging to be hit if you do this. Keith Vick was killed this way in Austin, TX in Dec. 2002.
7. Don't pass on the right. This collision is very easy to avoid. Just don't pass any vehicle on the right. If a car ahead of you is going only 10 mph, then you slow down, too, behind it. It will eventually start moving faster. If it doesn't, pass on the left when it's safe to do so.
8. Look behind you before turning right. Here's your opportunity to avoid hitting cyclists who violate tip #1 above and try to pass you on the right. Look behind you before making a right-hand turn to make sure a bike isn't trying to pass you. (Also remember that they could be coming up from behind you on the sidewalk while you're on the street.) Even if it's the other cyclist's fault for trying to pass you on the right when you make a right turn and have them slam into you, it won't hurt any less when they hit you.
9. Wear something bright, even during the day. It may seem silly, but bikes are small and easy to see through even during the day. Yellow or orange reflective vests really make a big difference. I had a friend ride away from me while wearing one during the day, and when she was about a quarter mile away, I couldn't see her or her bike at all, but the vest was clearly visible.
10. Don't swerve in and out of the parking lane if it contains any parked cars. You might be tempted to ride in the parking lane when there are no parked cars, dipping back into the traffic lane when you encounter a parked car. Instead, ride a steady, straight line in the traffic lane. Cars pulling out on the road are looking for traffic in the road not bikes coming up the shoulder, get out in the road and be seen. Note that you do not have to be in the roadway when being overtaken by a vehicle, if there is safe room be courteous, cars pulling out won't pull out in front of them and thus not you.
11. Pay attention and get out of the way. Yes that is right, when I ride down the road in too many places I see the scraps from the vehicular accidents and remind myself that they can not see each other so when in doubt I get out of the way. I have rode the white line while praying with way too much traffic going way to fast for my liking but for the most part if I can get off on the shoulder or even in the stones and debris it would be better than getting hit. Then I see the skid marks across the shoulders and the guardrails bent and you know there are no guarantees. So you ride as safe and predictable as possible, making sure that you are as visible as possible and keep an eye on your surroundings, try to avoid the areas that are uncomfortable and enjoy, but always stay alert!