A fatal collision between two bicyclists and a motor vehicle in Aiken, South Carolina, on Feb. 5 has the South Carolina Highway Patrol reminding drivers to watch out for bicycles and respect their rights to the road. The accident comes after 27 bicyclists were killed in car accidents in the state the previous two years.

The most recent fatality took place around 3 p.m. on Feb. 5. The victim, a 68-year-old Aiken man, was riding with his wife. When they attempted to make a left turn, a Ford driven by a 23-year-old woman tried to pass the couple but struck them both.

The husband was fatally injured in the accident. His wife was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The state highway patrol's Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team is looking into the accident. No charges have been filed against the motorist, but the case is still open, a trooper said.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety provides tips for drivers to help prevent collisions with bicyclists, which due to the disparity in vehicle sizes often cause serious injuries and death for riders. Among the safety tips are:

• Take care when passing bicycles. Respect their right to be on the road. If there is not enough room to pass safely, wait until conditions improve rather than risk passing too closely.

• Don't harass riders. There is no reason to taunt bike riders. Also, doing so distracts you from watching the road, which should be your first priority behind the wheel.

• Be alert at intersections. If you are not careful, you may not notice that a bicyclist is passing through and a serious accident may result.

Source: Aiken Standard, "Bicyclist's death raises concerns over safety on roads," Karen Daily, Feb. 7, 2012