The Safe Passing Bill would require a motorist to give at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist and would require a commercial vehicle to give at least six feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist.

Approximately 50 cyclists per year are killed in bicycle-automobile crashes in Texas. About 40 percent of those are killed by motorists traveling in the same direction. Most of those 20 deaths per year could be prevented if this law were enacted and obeyed by motorists.

The Safe Passing Law, modeled on the Move Over Act (for emergency vehicles) which passed in the 2003 Texas legislative session, simplifies the punishment issues and provides a clear framework for identifying the obligations of a passing motorist to either move over or slow down when passing a cyclist. With this law, the vision of “Share the Road” can be fully realized.

Currently, if a motorist hits another motorist from behind liability is more clearly established. However if a motorist hits a cyclist from behind, there is rarely a consequence because the motorist can say “the bicyclist swerved into me as I was passing”. Cyclists are unlikely to swerve more than three feet.

In Texas’ last regular legislative session in 2005, the Safe Passing Bill sponsored by Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) was defeated by fewer than four votes in the Texas State Senate. Texas Bicycle Coalition plans to work relentlessly in the 2007 regular session to promote the Safe Passing Bill in the Texas Legislature.

You can help Texas Bicycle Coalition ensure that the Safe Passing Bill succeeds in 2007 by donating now to the Coalition’s Legislative Warchest, encouraging your state senator and representatives to vote in favor of the bill and participate in opportunities to attend legislative committee meetings and the Cyclists in Suits bicycle advocacy day on Monday, April 23, 2007.

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