Three Feet for Safety Act goes into effect Tuesday

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – On Monday, the “Three-Feet-for-Safety Act” legally mandates that California motorists give bicyclists at least three feet of space when passing them on the road and also provides a way for law enforcement to enforce safe passing.

The traffic safety groups are urging motorists to give bicyclists at least 3 feet clearance when passing.

The San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, the Automobile Club of Southern California, California Highway Patrol-Border Division and San Diego Police Dept. will launch locally the “I GIVE 3 FT” safety awareness campaign on Tuesday, the day the law goes into effect.

California’s new bike-passing law will go into effect Sept. 16 and is designed to increase road safety and reduce crashes by reminding motorists to give bicyclists more safe space while passing on the road. Twenty-five other states have similar laws.