BICYCLES & TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
TIPS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVERS
R U L E S O F T H E R O A D
BICYCLES & TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
A bicycle driver has all the rights and responsibilities applicable to the driver of any other vehicle except when specifically regulated by law or when certain regulations , by their nature , cannot apply to bicycles .
Bicycle drivers who violate traffic laws will be subject to the same penalties as drivers of motor vehicles , except that no penalty points shall be assessed against the bicyclist ’ s driver ’ s license .
If a bicycle driver is stopped for a traffic violation and the officer has reason to believe that the bicyclist will not appear in court or the officer is unsure of the bicyclist ’ s identity , the officer may arrest the bicyclist and require the bicyclist to post bond .
TIPS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVERS
Motorists also have a responsibility to act in ways to make the roads safer for all users . Please consider the following points as you share the road with pedestrians and bicyclists . Scanning for pedestrians and bicyclists should be a normal part of your driving routine as is scanning for other cars and trucks . Extra care should be taken when exiting alleys and driveways since pedestrians and bicyclists may be using the sidewalk and approaching from your left and right .
When passing a bicyclist :
• Allow at least three feet between your vehicle and the bicycle . Just as the wind produced by a passing tractor-trailer can pull a car off course , so too can a passing car cause a cyclist to swerve out of control .
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• Be patient and wait until it is safe to pass , as you would any other slow-moving vehicle . Be aware that when a road is too narrow for cars and bikes to ride safely side by side , bicyclists should ride in or near the center of the lane to discourage motorists from trying to pass them without enough clearance .
Allow at least three feet when passing a bicyclist .
• If you feel that you must toot your horn in advance of passing , please do it from a friendly distance ( several hundred feet ), not from directly behind . You could startle them and they might veer into your path , causing an accident .
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