HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1108
As Passed Legislature
Title: An act relating to limitations for vehicles passing pedestrians or bicyclists.
Brief Description: Providing additional limitations for vehicles passing pedestrians or bicyclists.
Sponsors: By Representatives Grant, Walsh, Wallace, Rodne, Wood, Morrell, Lovick, Williams, Jarrett, Kilmer, Simpson, Kessler, Chase and Dickerson.
Brief History:
Transportation: 2/28/05, 3/5/05 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/10/05, 95-0.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 4/5/05, 45-1.
House Concurred.
Passed House: 4/18/05, 95-0.
Passed Legislature.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 25 members: Representatives Murray, Chair; Wallace, Vice Chair; Woods, Ranking Minority Member; Skinner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appleton, Buck, Campbell, Curtis, Dickerson, Ericksen, Hankins, Hudgins, Jarrett, Kilmer, Lovick, Morris, Nixon, Rodne, Sells, Shabro, Simpson, B. Sullivan, Takko, Upthegrove and Wood.
Staff: David Munnecke (786-7315).
Background:
Currently, when a vehicle overtakes and passes another vehicle, the passing vehicle must pass
to the left at a safe distance and is prohibited from returning to the right side of the roadway
until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle.
Vehicles are forbidden from driving on the left side of the roadway, from the driver's
perspective, when: (1) approaching or upon the crest of a grade where the driver's view is
obstructed; (2) within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing; (3) the view is
obstructed upon approaching within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct or tunnel; or (4) the left side
is not clearly visible and free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance to permit
overtaking and passing without interfering with oncoming traffic.
Summary of Bill:
The driver of a vehicle passing other traffic on the roadway or a pedestrian or bicyclist on the
roadway or on the shoulder of the roadway, must pass at a safe distance to the left. The
driver must also be safely clear of the overtaken pedestrian or bicyclist before returning to
their original position on the roadway.
The driver of a vehicle may also not drive on the left side of the roadway, from the
perspective of the driver, when a bicycle or pedestrian is within view of the driver and is
approaching from the opposite direction or when doing so would put the vehicle within a
hazardous distance of a bicyclist or pedestrian.
Clarifies that nothing in the language of the statutes governing passing by vehicles relieves
pedestrians or bicyclists of their legal duties while traveling on public highways.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: This bill is an important matter of traffic safety. It establishes the principle that a driver's responsibility extends to everyone on the road. This must be made clear since it will increase everyone's safety. This bill expands definitions, implements further restrictions, and increases awareness. It closes gaps in the current passing statutes. Tragic experiences have lead to the introduction of this bill, and it will insure that people look for pedestrians and bicyclists before passing. The necessity of sharing the road is an important message that must be sent.
Testimony Against: None.
Persons Testifying: Debbie Toews; Cherie Tessier; Barbara Culp, Bicycle Alliance of Washington; and Doug MacDonald, Washington State Department of Transportation.