Virginia bill to give bicyclists additional lane clearance defeated

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2/18/2010
Richard N. Shapiro
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Virginia bill to give bicyclists additional lane clearance defeated

A Virginia (Va.) bill that would give bike riders an additional foot of clearance on the highways was defeated 54-43 in the House of Delegates this week. If passed, the bill - introduced by Del. Kaye Kory (D-Fairfax County) - would have increased the clearance when vehicles pass bicyclists from two feet to three feet. While the bill was supposed to increase safety for bike riders on the roads, some argued that it would have had an adverse effect on drivers if passed.

"We're just looking for trouble here," said Del. John Cosgrove (R-Chesapeake), according to the Virginian-Pilot. Cosgrove believes extending the clearance will push drivers, who are attempting to avoid bike riders, into oncoming traffic.

Still, some action needs to be taken. The DMV reports alarming numbers of bicyclist injuries and evensome deaths due to bike/car wrecks. In 2008, 716 bicyclists were injured by cars while riding on Virginia roads. Fourteen bike riders were killed. Across the United States, over 700 people lost their lives and approximately 52,000 were injured due to bicycle/car crashes, according to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC).

Bike rider safety on the roads is clearly an issue of importance. Statistics over the years show steady rates of fatalities and injuries as a result of bicycle/car accidents. While you cannot control how motorists will drive, there are several precautions you can take to help prevent serious injury or even fatality when bicycling.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends always wearing protective gear, such as a helmet. Wearing reflective or fluorescent clothing is also beneficial, as it allows you to be more visible to drivers. Equipping your bicycle with a loud horn and headlight will assist in accident prevention as well. The PBIC suggests riding with the flow of traffic and watching out for turning cars among many other safety tips.

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Category: Car Accident Lawyers & Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Labels: accident Attorney bicycle bicyclist bike rider bike safety bill collision fatality injury Shapiro Va. Virginia

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia (VA) injury law firm whose attorneys focus exclusively on personal injury and accident law. We have a proven track record in the court room, and you can review our case results to see for yourself. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in VA if you've been seriously hurt by the carelessness of another person or company.

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Virginia bill to give bicyclists additional lane clearance defeated

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