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.

House Committee on Transportation
Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

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:

The driver of a vehicle passing other traffic on the roadway, or approaching 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 his or her 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.

The act clarifies that nothing in the statutes governing passing by vehicles relieves pedestrians or bicyclists of their legal duties while traveling on public highways.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   95   0
Senate   45   1   (Senate amended)
House   95   0   (House concurred)

Effective: July 24, 2005