A Safe Passing Law for Texas (2009)

Share On Social!

In 2009, the Texas Safe Passing bill was filed with the Senate by Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) and John Carona (R-Dallas) but later vetoed by Gov. Perry. This law would require more than three feet of passing distance (six feet for commercial vehicles) when a motorist passes a vulnerable road user—which includes, pedestrians, a physically disabled person, highway construction workers, people on horseback, bicyclists, or someone operating a moped.

This Texas Safe Passing bill included penalties for “right hook” turns (turning dangerously in front of a vulnerable road user), and failing to yield when making a left turn at an intersection. According to the text of SB 488, if this bill would have been enacted, violation of this law would be punishable as a misdemeanor, and if the violation resulted in property damage, it would be punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. If bodily injury were to occur, the violation would be classified as a Class B misdemeanor punished by: (1) a fine not to exceed $2,000; (2) confinement in jail for a term not to exceed 180 days; or (3) both such fine and confinement.

Although, this bill was not enacted at the state level, Safe Passing Ordinances have since been been enacted in at least 13 Texas Cities to date, including Austin (2009), Forth Worth (2011), and San Antonio (2010). More recently, in May 2013, the city of Houston enacted a Safe Passing ordinance.

Read the 2009 Safe Passing Legislation

Texas Safe Passing Bill SB 488

HB 827-Companion Bill to SB 488