On January 11, 2011, Beaumont’s city council unanimously voted to enact a Safe Passing Ordinance. The ordinance became effective immediately upon passage. It requires cars and trucks to give at least three feet, and commercial vehicles to give at least six feet, when approaching or passing vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and tow truck operators.
At the December 9, 2010, city council meeting, council members cited a desire to make Beaumont’s streets safer for vulnerable road users. Several members of the 2010-2011 class of the Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Beaumont group led local efforts to pass the ordinance, and a Beaumont police liaison made a presentation emphasizing the safety and educational components of the ordinance.
El Paso passed its own Safe Passing Ordinance on December 7 (click here to read more), and on February 15, Edinburg did so as well (story here).
Beaumont, El Paso and Edinburg join the ranks of Austin, San Antonio, New Braunfels and Helotes in protecting vulnerable road users’ safety with a Safe Passing Ordinances.
