Visibility Compromised? **Stop Driving** | NC Cyclist Tragically Killed by SUV

I had a lot of trouble sleeping last night. A dream kept recurring where my fear of being hit by a car while bicycling had increased, a lot, and I was inquiring with East Coasters (a local bike shop) about buying high visibility clothing.

At around 5am I gave up on sleeping, went downstairs, and I looked at Facebook on my phone.

One of the top stories was a post by a high school friend about a woman who grew up in our hometown, Katherine Henriksen Shubert. Tragically, Kathy was struck and killed by an SUV while bicycling along Brookbank Rd in Greensboro, NC this past Friday 4/13/12.

The SUV driver said the sunlight was blinding her and she never saw Katherine.

I'm incredibly saddened, and I can't stop thinking about this tragedy.

Kathy's family has suggested in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Yield to Life http://yieldtolife.org/

Even if you're not a cyclist, please take a couple of minutes to look at Yield to Life's website. It contains excellent safety tips for motorists and cyclists.

And here's one safety tip I'd like to add:

While driving or riding, if for any reason visibility becomes compromised, slow to a stop as quickly as you are safely able, and only resume driving or riding once you have remedied the visibility issue.

If your vision becomes compromised, and you continue to drive your vehicle, you are gambling with human lives. Other people's and your own. Please ... do not do it.

According to the SUV driver, 33 year old Kimberly Mann of Summerfield, NC, the sunlight was blinding her. If as soon as this had occurred Kimberly had slowed, stopped, possibly adjusted her sun visor and / or put on sun glasses, and then proceeded with caution ... in all likelihood 38 year old Katherine Henriksen Shubert would still be alive today.

A number of years ago, while I was bicycling home from work, my bike was hit by a car under similar circumstances. The sun was setting, the 16 yr old girl driver said she couldn't see, and the mirror of her car struck the handlebar of my bike at ~45mph. The mirror of her car broke off and, amazingly, I didn't even fall. I was unbelievably lucky. My son was very young at the time, and I remember thinking he was just inches away from potentially losing his father.

Kathy's obituary: http://is.gd/rMsOac, News: http://is.gd/IEVAek, http://is.gd/MsVWNE

My thoughts, prayers, love and condolences are with Kathy's family and everyone that knew and loved her. I'm so so sorry for your loss.

For everyone reading this, please drive and ride very safely and encourage others to do the same. Teach kids about the importance of driving safely, the dangers of not doing so ... and lead by example.

I tried to make an online donation to Yield to Life http://yieldtolife.org/support but the link wasn't working. I'll try again later, and if difficulty persists I'll mail a donation to:

Yield to Life1338 S. Foothill Dr. #157Salt Lake City, UT 84108-2321

And ... for some reason, I wanted to see an image of the road she was travelling on, so I typed the road name into Google maps, zoomed to street view and this image of a cyclist pedaling along the road came up. It looks like a wonderfully beautiful and peaceful road to bicycle into the sunset along ...