California Three Feet for Safety Act Enforced

Cyclists are on the front lines when it comes to sharing the road.

“9 times out of 10 motorists will give us the right of way”, says Ken Dally with the Tailwinds Cycling Club in Santa Maria, “but it only takes a couple to try and get as close to us as they can, honk the horn, gesture and that type of thing, which makes it more difficult.”

33 year old cyclist Matthew O’Neill was hit from behind and killed last month by a truck towing a horse trailer in the Santa Maria Valley in what the CHP says was an accident.

O’Neill is one of about 100 cyclists killed every year in California.

The Three Feet for Safety Act is expected to reduce those numbers.

“Its been a long time coming”, Dally says, “its been years trying to get it in place and we’re glad that it finally got here because more than anything else it gives recognition to the problem.”

The new State Law requires all motorists to provide a three foot safety buffer between the vehicle they are driving and cyclists on the road.

If there’s not enough room, drivers must slow down behind the cyclists and pass only when safe to do so.

“Conversely for the cyclists, if you are riding in large groups and you see cars behind you, please make sure you move over to the right hand edge of the roadway”, says CHP Officer Craig Carrier, “don’t block the roadway, and allow the cars to pass safely as well on your part.”

“Its going to be difficult to enforce because the police actually have to see somebody not give you the three foot rule”, Ken Dally says, “but again it’s the recognition, if people and drivers recognize that its a law then I think the majority of people want to follow the law.”

Fines for violating the three foot rule start at $35 not including court costs.