HB 988 - Driving; safe distance between vehicle and bicycle; provide

Current VersionPDF Version

Committees

Current Status

02/18/10 - House Committee Favorably Reported

First Reader Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to driving on the right side of the roadway, overtaking and passing, and following too closely, so as to require the operator of a motor vehicle to leave a safe distance between such motor vehicle and a bicycle when such vehicle is passing the bicycle; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Status History

Bill History
DateAction
01/27/2010House First Readers
01/28/2010House Second Readers
02/18/2010House Committee Favorably Reported
10 LC 34 2532S

The House Committee on Motor Vehicles offers the following substitute to HB 988:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Article 3 of Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to driving on the right side of the roadway, overtaking and passing, and following too closely, so as to require the operator of a motor vehicle to leave a safe distance between such motor vehicle and a bicycle when such vehicle is passing the bicycle; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.
Article 3 of Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to driving on the right side of the roadway, overtaking and passing, and following too closely, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
"40-6-55.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'safe distance' means not less than three feet.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, when reasonable, the operator of a motor vehicle, when overtaking and passing a bicycle that is proceeding in the same direction on the roadway, shall leave a safe distance between such vehicle and the bicycle and shall maintain such clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle."

SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.