cyclist.jpg

A bicyclist uses a bike lane on River Road in North Bergen in this 2012 file photo. A bill approved by an Assembly panel today would require drivers to give at cyclists and pedestrians at least four feet of space when overtaking them.

(Reena Rose Sibayan/The Jersey Journal)

TRENTON — New Jersey drivers would have to be more careful around cyclists and pedestrians under legislation approved by a legislative panel today.

The Assembly Transportation Committee today approved a measure (A1577/A1600) that would require drivers to keep a minimum of four feet away from cyclists or pedestrians when overtaking them, or face stiff fines.

“This bill addresses the notion of respecting all users of the road,” said Janna Chernetz, the New Jersey advocate for the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. “More must be done to protect the most vulnerable users of New Jersey roadways.”

Drivers who violate the law would face fines of $100 to $500.

Chernetz said New Jersey has double the national average of pedestrian road deaths. From 2001 to 2011, she said, there were 19,551 vehicle collisions with bicyclists in the state’s 13 northern counties, resulting in 81 deaths.

“We have an ability, by doing legislation like this, to give notice to drivers that they need to provide sufficient space around bicyclists,” said Assemblyman John Wisniewski, the committee’s chairman.

Under another bill approved by the committee (A2090), drivers who commit motor vehicle offenses that result in them hitting cyclists would face an additional fine of up to $500.

The bills were approved unanimously. To become law, it would need to pass the full Assembly and state Senate, and be signed by the governor.

RELATED COVERAGE

• Study: Nearly 20,000 bicycle accidents in northern N.J. over last decade

• More Politics







FOLLOW STAR-LEDGER POLITICS: TWITTER • FACEBOOK • GOOGLE+