In 2011, 726 people were killed on bicycles. Here are some ways to protect yourself.

1. Always wear a helmet. Almost three-fourths — 74 percent — of biking deaths involve head injuries.

2. Use mirrors on your helmet. Make sure you can see not only what’s in front of you but also what’s coming from behind as well.

3. Wear reflective gear. If motorists can’t see you, they can’t avoid you.

4. Always use headlights at night. It’s the law.

5. Follow the rules of the road. Bicyclists are subject to the same rules of the road as motorists.

6. Use hand turn signals. Learn the proper signals here.

7. Always ride on the correct side of the road. Drivers don’t expect traffic coming from the wrong direction and head-on collisions are more deadly.

8. Put the beer down​. Drunk biking can be as dangerous as drunk driving. Twenty-four percent of fatal crashes involve a rider with a BAC higher than .08.

All statistics are courtesy of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.