Skip to main content

New law in Pennsylvania will help protect vulnerable road users

A new law in the US state of Pennsylvania will help boost safety for cyclists. This sets rules for Pennsylvania drivers to follow when encountering a cyclist. Drivers now have to leave a 1.22m space when overtaking cyclists. To achieve this, drivers may have to cross the centre line when passing a bicycle on the left, but only when opposing traffic allows. Drivers attempting to turn left must also yield the right of way to bicycle riders travelling in the opposite direction. The new law also calls for bicyc
April 3, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A new law in the US state of Pennsylvania will help boost safety for cyclists. This sets rules for Pennsylvania drivers to follow when encountering a cyclist. Drivers now have to leave a 1.22m space when overtaking cyclists. To achieve this, drivers may have to cross the centre line when passing a bicycle on the left, but only when opposing traffic allows. Drivers attempting to turn left must also yield the right of way to bicycle riders traveling in the opposite direction.

The new law also calls for bicycle riders to avoid impeding the normal flow of traffic. When there is only one travel lane, cyclists may use any portion of the lane to avoid hazards on the roadway, including maintaining a safe distance from stopped and parked cars. Cyclists and motorists should obey all traffic signs and signals. 2535 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation also recommends bicyclists always ride predictably and provide signals before proceeding.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Concern at European road safety issues
    March 24, 2015
    The European Commissioner of Transport, Violeta Bulc, has announced EU road safety statistics for 2014 that give some cause for concern. In 2014 there were a total of 25,700 road deaths across all 28 Member States of the EU. Road fatality figures differ widely among Member States. The figures indicate only a 1% improvement since last year, meaning that significantly more effort will be needed from Member State governments in order to reach the Commission's goal to halve the number of road deaths between 201
  • IBT goes roundabout in Bradenton, Florida
    November 26, 2019
    Another roundabout is being built in the US where the public remains sceptical but agencies and contractors are on board, writes David Armina
  • East End Crossing Project—Availability payment P3 in action
    July 14, 2017
    Indiana exercised its authority to use a P3 contract when it partnered with Kentucky for new bridges across the Ohio River. Barney Allison and John Smolen* explain the groundbreaking availability payment deal. Earlier this year, traffic began rolling over the new tolled Lewis and Clark Bridge spanning the Ohio River from northern Kentucky to southern Indiana. The cable-stayed bridge is part of the award-winning Ohio Bridges Project to untangle traffic within the greater metropolitan area of Louisville, Kent