Starting Tuesday, drivers will have to keep three feet of space between them and bicyclists on the road under a new California law.
The safety measure may be just another law to some, but for Cheri O'Neill, it's a tribute of sorts to her son and others.
“We need to honor him, and this is how we can do that,” O’Neill said choking back tears. “We need to save other lives.”
The Chula Vista mother’s 33-year-old son Matthew was killed Aug. 9 doing what he loved -- cycling a Central California road -- when he was hit by a teenage driver in a truck hauling a horse trailer.
“In our son's case, if the driver, if he'd given our son the three feet, he'd be alive today," O’Neill told NBC 7.
The state law applies for drivers passing from behind. If not, motorists have to slow down to the bike’s speed and wait until it is safe to pass.
The rule is a good start to sharing the road, says Andy Hanshaw, head of the San Diego County Bike Coalition.
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“While we know laws are good, the policies are important as well,” explained Hanshaw. “We need to continue to push for actual physical infrastructure that separates bikes from traffic and gets more people riding safely."
According to the most recent CHP statistics online, San Diego County recorded 11-bicycle related fatalities and 939 bicycle-involved injuries in 2012.
Hoping to reduce those numbers, the O'Neills started a Facebook page called “Remember
Matthew: Change Lanes to Pass a Cyclist."
Though thankful for the new law, they're planning to push for an amendment.
“When it is safe -- and we stress when it is safe-- a driver may cross the double yellow to pass a cyclist,” said O’Neill.
A previous version of the measure had that provision, but it was vetoed because of safety concerns.
If you violate the new law, you could be fined $35, which jumps to $220 if you injure a cyclist.
