Tuesday, March 24, 2009

3 Foot Passing Bill Introduced in the NJ State Senate

A safe passing bill has been introduced into the NJ State Senate, look for more information as we get it. In the meantime contact your State Senator and ask them to co-sponsor S2737 sponsored by Senators Oroho and Stack.

Bill No. S2737

Sponsors
Oroho, Steven V. as Primary Sponsor
Stack, Brian P. as Primary Sponsor

AN ACT concerning the operation of motor vehicles in certain cases and supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.

Requires motorists operating vehicles to maintain minimum three foot safety distance when overtaking bicycles.

AN ACT concerning the operation of motor vehicles in certain cases and supplementing Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.


BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction shall leave a safe distance between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of not less than three feet until the motor vehicle has safely passed the bicycle. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of $100.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill would require motorists to maintain a distance of at least three feet when overtaking a bicycle that is travelling in the same direction. The bill provides for a fine of $100 for violating the three foot minimum distance requirement while overtaking cyclists.

Requires motorists operating vehicles to maintain minimum three foot safety distance when overtaking bicycles.

3 comments:

Andrew J. Besold said...

Huh! That's funny.

I'm sure there's something MUCH better coming down New Jersey's legislative pike regarding the safe passing of cyclists. There's nothing safe about passing a cyclist by just three feet particularly at speeds greater than 25 mph.

Anonymous said...

This stinks. 3 feet aint much at all! I ride alot, and almost always get way more room than 3 feet. 3 feet scares me. I can actually imagine, if this law is passed, angry auto drivers passing me closer than they otherwise would. They'd think "3 feet!, I'll show him, I'll give him 3 feet and only 3 feet!"

Anonymous said...

I agree that three feet isn't quite enough (how about a half lane's width), but it's at least a start toward awareness and truly sharing the road. But then, I suppose this will be another law that will be ignored by drivers and unenforced by the police.