There is currently a 5 feet to pass law on the books in Albuquerque and this bill [
House Bill 192] does seek to expand it to the entire state. The part that makes this bill important is the provision that a motorist can cross a double yellow, provided there is no oncoming traffic, to pass a cyclist with 5 feet of space in between. This is a key provision.
There is also a careless driving accountability bill [
House Bill 109] for legislators' consideration during this session. This bill provides for stiffer penalty options when a driver who is driving
carelessly (according to the law) hits another road user (pedestrian, bicyclist or motorcyclist) and causes great bodily harm or death.
Letting your elected officials know that you support these bills is an important way to:
1) Help get them passed and signed by the governor, and
2) Move the needle toward safer streets and highways.
The website for the NM Legislature has tools to help you contact your Representative and Senator. Please do this. Look up your elected officials (using your home address) and let them know you support a safer NM for all road users and these bills in particular. It won't be easy to get these bills through the legislative process and to the desk of the governor due to the number of bills that have been introduced and the time that will be spent hashing out how to spend the budget surplus NM has this year. That makes our participation in the process all the more important; our voices can motivate our Representatives and Senators to vote for these bills, move them along in committee, and get them to the governor's desk.
Governor Lujan Grisham will also need to look at these bills favorably. Let her know you want her to! The 5 feet to pass bill made it to Governor Martinez's desk, but she vetoed it, so don't take this step for granted.
Pass this information on to everyone you know who would like New Mexico to be a safer place for all road users!
Jennifer