"Give Me 3" Bill Passes the State Assembly

September 28, 2012

Riding bicycles is a large part of the appeal and culture of Southern California. While thousands of riders make use of trails and special bike paths in parks, many riders take to bike lanes on city streets. With such widespread interest, motorists must be mindful of how vulnerable bicyclists are while riding in traffic. This is especially important as cars pass bicyclists and cross into bike lanes while making turns. In fact, many bicyclist fatalities in California are caused when drivers fail to yield to riders or give them proper space to maneuver.

The State Assembly recently approved a bike safety law that would specify the distance motorists must keep when passing bicyclists. Senate Bill 1464 requires drivers to provide at least three feet when passing riders. It was sponsored by the California Bike Coalition (CBC) and the City of Los Angeles and will supplant the current directive that only requires drivers to maintain a "safe distance" when passing but does not specify how much clearance a driver must provide. The bill's proponents believe that it will give drivers the proper guidance in sharing the road.

The safety campaign "Give Me 3" serves as a reminder for drivers to share the road and be wary of how close they are when passing bicyclists.

SB 1464 comes on the heels of a similar bill (SB 910) that allowed drivers to pass closer than three feet, if they slowed down to 15 miles per hour. The bill was ultimately vetoed last year amidst concerns over traffic concerns and safety issues stemming from sudden stops.

If SB 1464 is signed into law, offenders will face a minimum fine of $35 for violations that do not result in an injury. The fine could be as much as $220 if a violation results in an injury. The Long Beach Post also reports that 21 other states and the District of Columbia have passed similar minimum passing laws.

Jim Brown, Communications Director for the CBC explained to Southern California Public Radio that police officers won't be using yardsticks to measure how close every car comes to bicyclists on the street, but he believes that the law will raise important questions about passing space as future accidents are investigated. Essentially, such violations could be viewed in personal injury cases as a breach of a driver's duty to use reasonable care in looking out for bike riders.

In the meantime, injured riders can still seek compensation if they are hit by a car. If you have questions about your legal rights after an accident, an experienced attorney can advise you.

Article provided by Law Offices of Daral B. Mazzarella
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