3-foot passing, Full Lane Change, and stop-as-yield... which states have them?

6 views
Skip to first unread message

Serge Issakov

unread,
Apr 6, 2021, 1:49:05 PM4/6/21
to Cabo Forum, BicycleDriving, Mighk Wilson, j...@jimdodsonlaw.com
Mighk Wilson just shared this source with me; passing it on.

This article identifies the states which have 3-foot passing laws:

In 1973, Wisconsin became the first state to enact such a law; several more states have since enacted such measures. As of February 2021, 33 states—Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming—and the District of Columbia have enacted passing laws that require the motorist to leave at least 3-feet or more when passing a bicyclist. 

But it also mentions which states require the golden full lane change to pass bikes:

Additionally, five states, Delaware, Kentucky, Nevada, Oklahoma and Washington, require a motorist to completely change lanes when passing a bicyclist if there is more than one lane proceeding in the same direction.  


While we're talking about bike-related laws unique to a small number of states, according to LAB (thanks to Jim Dodson for this link), these are the five states that currently have the Idaho stop-as-yield laws: Arkansas, Delaware*, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

* Only on 2-lane roads


Serge

Adam Bickett

unread,
Apr 6, 2021, 4:42:12 PM4/6/21
to Serge Issakov, Cabo Forum, BicycleDriving, Mighk Wilson, j...@jimdodsonlaw.com
Have any states given statistics on the number of citations issued for the 3-feet  or full lane passing laws?

Adam

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CABOforum" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to caboforum+...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/caboforum/CAEy9bH6b4VKKXqNHrtq8N5M%3DauBB1b77HX2mzpxv3SSX5kmFXQ%40mail.gmail.com.

Serge Issakov

unread,
Apr 6, 2021, 4:54:34 PM4/6/21
to Adam Bickett, BicycleDriving, Cabo Forum, Mighk Wilson, j...@jimdodsonlaw.com
Not that I know of. As I can tell it’s hardly ever enforced . A few years ago there was a focussed effort in some town in Texas if I recall correctly, but that was pretty unusual. They had a cop decoy on a bike ride and report anyone who passed them too closely and then a patrol car would pull them over.  But I’ve always felt the main value of the law was informational. Also makes any actual sideswipe a blatant violation. 

Serge

John F. Hess

unread,
Apr 7, 2021, 10:41:42 PM4/7/21
to CABOforum
putting on my cynic hat.  1) Does anyone really know of any ticket being given to a motorist who hits/sideswipes a cyclist? I think that even with a collision, no ticket would be given because the LEO "didn't see it".  It's always the cyclists word against the motorist, seems like cyclists are always serving in front of cars and getting hit/dead.   

2)  I don't think the 3ft rule is ever enforced, or perhaps more politely, is enforced only in exceptional circumstances.  
 
Like the meme says, "Prove me Wrong"

cheers,

Frank J. Lehnerz

unread,
Apr 7, 2021, 11:05:42 PM4/7/21
to John F. Hess, CABOforum
Sadly yet somewhat related to John's reply: 

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-07/why-wasnt-tiger-woods-cited-speeding-after-crash

Tldr: batshit insanity and government incompetence. 



To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/caboforum/02051059-e3a4-4f26-90e6-4d65cdd3e6acn%40googlegroups.com.

Serge Issakov

unread,
Apr 7, 2021, 11:39:34 PM4/7/21
to john...@gmail.com, CABOforum
I don’t think it matters that nobody is ever ticketed for violating this law. If a cyclist is sideswiped the law helps their civil case. Before the law the driver could claim the cyclist swerved. Now they have to claim the cyclist suddenly swerved over three feet just as they were passing, or admit to violating the three foot law. I imagine that helps quite a bit. 

Serge

Pete Penseyres

unread,
Apr 8, 2021, 3:39:41 PM4/8/21
to john...@gmail.com, Serge Issakov, CABOforum
To answer John Hess's question 1:

A friend of mine was sideswiped by a driver who he caught up with at the next traffic light. He was not injured and did not fall, but asked the driver if he knew he had hit him. The motorist said something like: "Yes. I was trying to teach you a lesson." The discussion degenerated from that point, but the whole thing was captured on his helmet mounted Contour camera.
When he took the video to the police, they cited the driver for Felony Hit and Run.
The motorist hired a lawyer and after about a year or more, the DA dropped the charges. If any of you want more details on this, I will ask my friend if he would be willing to share.

I also recall seeing a video from another incident in NorCal that resulted in a felony DUI charge as the bike mounted camera picked up the license plate of the vehicle as the bike was lying on the ground after the collision.

Do yes. It does happen, but not often enough to deter it.


Pete Penseyres

Pete Penseyres

unread,
Apr 8, 2021, 3:43:19 PM4/8/21
to john...@gmail.com, Serge Issakov, CABOforum
Not "DUI". "H&R" for the NOR CAL incident.

Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages