Three foot passing laws - a good idea? How can Missouri's three foot law be strengthened?

California's new three-foot passing law went into effect recently, leading to nationwide discussion about the importance and effectiveness of these laws that require motorists to pass bicyclists at a safe distance. Bike East Bay has an excellent rundown about how the new law works and what it means for California drivers and cyclists. 

Three feet please (photo courtesy League of American Bicyclists)

In 2005, at the behest of the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation, Missouri passed a safe passing of bicyclists law that was one of the first in the nation. However, due to opposition by insurance-industry lobbyists, the specific three-foot requirement of the law was dropped.

Missouri's law currently requires motorists to "leave a safe distance when passing the bicycle" and "maintain clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle".

Do safe passing of bicyclist laws, like Missouri's and California's, really help?

Several times in the intervening years, MoBikeFed has worked with supporters in the General Assembly to specify a minimum passing distance of three or four feet, as 24 other states now do. So far the membership of the House & Senate Transportation Committees of the Missouri General Assembly have not been receptive to our proposal to strengthen the safe passing laws.

Each time we have introduced a proposal to strengthen the Missouri law, our members and legislators have had the discussion:  Do these laws really help bicyclists?

Bob Mionske's BicycleLaw.com recently posted a detailed two-part analysis of the safe passing laws, and comes down unequivocally in support of the laws, for these reasons:

1. They raise awareness. . . . 

2. They are a minimum, not a maximum. . . .

3. They change driver behavior. . . .

4. They are enforceable: This is the big issue for cyclists. What good is the law if it isn’t (or can’t be) enforced? Well the good news is the laws can be enforced. Police departments in Austin, Texas and Naples, Florida have shown the rest of the nation how it’s done. If the law isn’t being enforced in your town, sit down with your local law enforcement department and help them learn how it’s done.

5. Dangerous drivers can no longer argue that a buzz was “legal”.

Can safe passing laws be improved?

BicycleLaw.com makes recommendations for improving the laws that 24 states currently have on the books:

1. Eliminate exceptions to the laws that make them weaker.

2. Link passing distance to passing speed.

3. Change lanes to pass.

4. Make passing collisions prima facie evidence of an illegal pass.

5. Criminalize buzzing.

These are all excellent suggestions for updating Missouri's safe passing law when the time comes that the General Assembly is open to addressing this issue.

Strengthening the Missouri safe passing is supported by the vast majority of MoBikeFed members and supporter and is near the top of priorities in our current Legislative Platform.

Full information about current Missouri bicycle & pedestrian law is here.

Improving safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, and all road users is an important goal of MoBikeFed's Vision for Bicycling and Walking in Missouri.  Your generous membership and financial support helps make our Vision become reality!