SB 248
From the 80(R) Session
Ellis
Safe Bicycle Passing Bill
Introduced: Placed on General State Calendar
TAGS: bicycling, automobile
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Updated by jeweke on Feb 12, 2007 8:54:10

Summary

Requires a motorist to give at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist and requires a commercial vehicle to give at least six feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist.

Background

An average of 50 cyclists a year are killed on Texas roads, about 20 of whom are hit from behind by vehicles traveling the same direction./2/

A motorist who hits a cyclist from behind often avoids liabilty by claiming “the bicyclist swerved into me." As cyclists are unlikely to swerve more than three feet, this bill helps establish liability for cyclists hit by drivers from behind./1/

Political Context

Similar language failed the senate by 4 votes in the 2005 legislative session. Sen. Staples headed the opposition./3/ This bill will be heard in Transportation & Homeland Security Wednesday, Feb 14th, 2007.

Additional Links

/1/Texas Bicycle Coalition "2007 Legislation: Safe Passing Bill"
/2/ Simnacher, Joe "Cyclists seek safety, justice through bill" The Dallas Morning News 1/9/07
/3/ Mottola, Daniel. "Bike legislation has cyclists' safety in mind" 5/20/2005
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Updated by jeweke on Jan 22, 2007 14:37:48
This is an older version of this article.

Summary

Requires a motorist to give at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist and requires a commercial vehicle to give at least six feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist.

Background

An average of 50 cyclists a year are killed on Texas roads, about 20 of whom are hit from behind by vehicles traveling the same direction./2/

A motorist who hits a cyclist from behind often avoids liabilty by claiming “the bicyclist swerved into me." As cyclists are unlikely to swerve more than three feet, this bill helps establish liability for cyclists hit by drivers from behind./1/

Political Context

Similar language failed the senate by 4 votes in the 2005 legislative session. Sen. Staples headed the opposition./3/

Additional Links

/1/Texas Bicycle Coalition "2007 Legislation: Safe Passing Bill"
/2/ Simnacher, Joe "Cyclists seek safety, justice through bill" The Dallas Morning News 1/9/07
/3/ Mottola, Daniel. "Bike legislation has cyclists' safety in mind" 5/20/2005
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Updated by jeweke on Jan 20, 2007 6:54:02
This is an older version of this article.

Summary

Requires a motorist to give at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist and requires a commercial vehicle to give at least six feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist.

Background

An average of 50 cyclists a year are killed on Texas roads, about 20 of whom are hit from behind by vehicles traveling the same direction./2/

A motorist who hits a cyclist from behind often avoids liabilty by claiming “the bicyclist swerved into me." As cyclists are unlikely to swerve more than three feet, this bill helps establish liability for cyclists hit by drivers from behind./1/

Political Context

Similar language failed by 4 votes in the 2005 legislative session. Sen. Staples headed the opposition./3/

Additional Links

/1/Texas Bicycle Coalition "2007 Legislation: Safe Passing Bill"
/2/ Simnacher, Joe "Cyclists seek safety, justice through bill" The Dallas Morning News 1/9/07
/3/ Mottola, Daniel. "Bike legislation has cyclists' safety in mind" 5/20/2005
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Updated by jeweke on Jan 20, 2007 7:01:25
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Arguments for SB 248

Curerently, there is no real law that motorists have to give adequate clearance when they pass a bicyclist - Texas Bicycle Coalition

This Bill has the potential to save 20 lives per year in the state of Texas. - Institute for Traffic Safety Analysis

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Arguments against SB 248

Current law already has provisions that protect the safe passage of vehicles of all types on our state's roads. - Sen Staples

This bill endangers the safety of motor drivers who already face the dangerous situation of passing a bicyclist on a two-lane road. Sen Staples

Double click here to add an argument against this bill.
 
3 feet for cars and 6 feet for trucks?
by MEGABITE on Jan 23, 2007 7:11:13
I guess they want to cause more head on collisions since drivers will be way over in the other person's lane?

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