Pass Safe, Save Lives
Michigan’s Safe Passing Law was passed in 2018. It created the requirement for drivers to leave a minimum of three feet when passing bicyclists on roadways.
On June 29, 2018, Governor Snyder signed HB 4265 (Hughes), 4185 (Bizon), and 4198 (Alexander) into law. PA 279 and 280 of 2018 require motorists to give three feet of space as they pass bicyclists on the roadways. PA 277 of 2018 improves driver’s education in Michigan to put a greater emphasis on bicycle safety.
The law requires a motorist passing a cyclist to give at least three feet of distance to the bicyclist when passing.
This law addresses how to safely pass when a bicyclist is traveling in the left lane. This can occur when a bicyclist is riding in the left lane of a one-way street, or crossing into the left lane when preparing to make a left turn. This law does not allow motorists to pass to the right of a bicyclist when they are riding as far to the right as practicable or taking the lane. The Michigan Vehicle code already prohibits motorists to leave the roadway onto the shoulder to pass a vehicle, including a bicyclist.
In addition, the law requires Michigan driver’s education curriculum to include no less than one hour of classroom time devoted to laws pertaining to bicyclists, motorcyclists, and other vulnerable roadway users, including pedestrians. The laws of this state pertaining to bicyclists, motorcyclists, and other vulnerable roadway users shall also be incorporated into other parts of the driver’s education curriculum where appropriate.
Learn More
To read more about Michigan’s Safe Passing Law, visit LMB’s FAQ page.
To learn about how the Safe Passing Law affects local ordinances, read our joint statement with our friends at Bike Law Michigan.