The 2007 Oregon Legislature passed a law creating an enhanced penalty (or an education and community service diversion program) for careless driving if it contributes to serious physical injury or death to a “vulnerable user of a public way.” The law went into effect January 1, 2008 and was the first law of its kind in the United States. A few other states have followed in Oregon’s path.
The purpose of this collection of materials is to provide useful information on the Vulnerable User legal concept and its potential for improvement in safety for non-motorized roadway users such as bicyclists and pedestrians. We hope these materials will encourage and assist bicycle and pedestrian activists to call on their state’s lawmakers to pass similar laws to enhance roadway safety and increase the use of our roads by human powered travelers.
Please keep us posted on your efforts to get Vulnerable User laws passed in your states, share your materials with us and others and let us know if you have any questions.
- “Vulnerable Roadway User” Article by Ray Thomas
- Oregon Vulnerable Roadway User Law
- Sample Legislative Testimony from Oregon
- “American Bicyclist” Article by Ray Thomas
- Delaware Law
- New York Law
- Texas 2008 Bill and Veto
- Supportive St. Petersburg, Florida “Times” Article