Azerbaijan’s Main State Road Police Department has recorded 16 road accidents involving cyclists in the first nine months of this year, killing 9 people and injuring 8 others, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.
The Main State Road Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said cyclists are among the most vulnerable road users, since bicycles offer no structural protection to riders in the event of a crash. As a result, collisions involving cyclists often end in serious consequences.
The department noted that cyclists riding through residential areas along roads of national significance should be especially cautious. Riding at speed on busy roads at night or in poor visibility, without adequate precautions, or on a bicycle that is technically faulty or lacks proper lights and reflectors, can lead to severe accidents, it warned.
Under Azerbaijani law, cyclists are banned from riding on motorways. They must use designated bicycle lanes where available, or otherwise keep to the side of the road or the road shoulder. Bicycles must also be in proper technical condition and must not carry cargo or passengers that could interfere with control of the vehicle.
The Main State Road Police Department urged cyclists and other riders of two-wheeled vehicles to strictly observe traffic rules and avoid putting their own lives and health, as well as those of others, at risk.
