Biker Struck By Car on Route 59

By M. C. Millman

A biker out after dark made the mistake of veering around a car resulting in his bike being hit by a car coming in the other direction.

The accident happened this week at the Route 59 and Robert Pitt Drive intersection. The biker, who was knocked clear of his bike, was able to stagger to the sidewalk, where he collapsed to wait for help.

Bikers are required to follow traffic laws just like other vehicles on the street, with the addition of following the law, which requires bikers in Rockland County to wear a helmet. Although the general law in New York State is that only bicycle riders under age 14 are required to wear a bicycle helmet, Rockland County requires all bicycle riders to wear a helmet. 

Helmets have been proven to save lives and prevent head injuries. According to a study conducted in the New England Journal of Medicine, riders who wear helmets have an 85 percent reduction in their risk of head injury and an 88 percent reduction in their risk of brain injury.