2007 Legislative Session ( bills passed relating to bicyclist safety.)
- SB 108-- Crossview Mirrors/Passing Bicyclist Safely (ORS 811.065)
SB 108 requires commercial delivery trucks over 10,000 pounds gross weight to be equipped with "crossview" mirrors.
Crossview mirrors enable the driver to see people and objects directly in front of the vehicle. In addition SB 108 allows a driver to pass a bicyclist only on the left and at a safe distance from the cyclist. A safe distance is a distance sufficient to prevent contact between the vehicle and the cyclist if the cyclist were to fall into the driver's lane of travel. This rule does not apply when the driver is traveling in a lane adjacent to a designated bicycle lane, on roads with speed greater than 35mph, or when the cyclist is turning left.
- HB 3314--Careless Driving Penalties (ORS 811.135)
HB 3314 enhances the penalties associated with careless driving when the person convicted of this offense also contributed to the serious physical injury or death of a "vulnerable user of the public way."
Under the bill, a "vulnerable user" includes a pedestrian, a highway worker, a person riding an animal, the operator or user of a farm tractor, a skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates, a scooter or a bicycle. HB 3314 requires a court to sentence a person convicted of this offense to complete a traffic safety course, perform 100 to 200 hours of community service, pay a fine up to $12,500, and suspension of driving privileges for one year. Payment of the fine and suspension of driving privileges may be waived by the court upon completion of the traffic safety course and the community service.
Bicyclist Safety Event Calendar
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