California became the 24th state to mandate on Tuesday at midnight, improving upon the state’s ambiguous “safe distance” passing rule.
The new rule requires drivers to slow down and leave at least three feet between cars and cyclists when passing or risk $35 fines, the . If a collision occurs within the buffer zone and results in a cyclist’s injury, fines increase to $220.
The rule, signed in September 2013 by Governor Jerry Brown, is part of a state effort to reduce cyclist injuries and fatalities, 40 percent of which occur during . According to the most , 153 cyclists died on state roads in 2012 because of car collisions and 13,861 were injured.
When driving on roads that are too narrow to allow a three-foot buffer zone, motorists will have to reduce their speed and wait to pass until the road widens. A notes that cyclists are legally allowed to use full lanes on narrow roads to discourage cars from passing.
Patrol officers plan to enforce the rule by watching vehicles and , which they are trained to do at the CHP Academy.