HB 445 Overtaking Another Vehicle - Support
This is basically an attempt to improve our 3' safe passing law by getting rid of the narrow highway exception and adding this text to the section of law that governs the overtaking and passing of vehicles:
THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE MAY NOT OVERTAKE ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT IS GOING IN THE SAME DIRECTION UNLESS A SAFE PASSING DISTANCE CAN BE MAINTAINED WHILE THE OTHER VEHICLE IS OVERTAKEN.
I've written about MDOT's poor summery of our narrow exception before. While non of the exceptions are really necessary (cyclist is riding in a manner that is illegal so don't ticket the driver for a 3' violation - We need that spelled out? And if it is the cyclist that moves closer the vehicle, how is that the driver's fault?) but the narrow highway exception was very troubling how MDOT has summarized it and is not easily understood nor applicable to the vast majority of our roadways. Does the legislature really think the police will ticket a driver for passing a cyclist on a one lane highway when both are doing the best they can to do safe passing?
Main page: <a href="http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&stab=01&id=hb0445&tab=subject3&ys=2013RS">http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&stab=01&id=hb0445&tab=subject3&ys=2013RS</a>;