HB 1122 -- Highway and Bicycle Safety

Sponsor:  Davis (19)

This bill makes numerous revisions to the laws regarding highway
and bicycle safety.  The bill:

(1)  Prohibits obstructing a designated bicycle lane with a motor
vehicle.  Motor vehicles may be driven in a bicycle lane only in
certain circumstances;

(2)  Requires drivers to exercise the highest degree of care to
avoid colliding with pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists;

(3)  Requires motorists to pass bicyclists with the highest
degree of care by leaving a safe distance of no less than three
feet between the motor vehicle and the bicycle;

(4)  Assesses two points against a person's driver's license for
any violation that occurs in a school zone, four additional
points when a violation leads to personal injury, eight points
for a conviction for operating a motor vehicle causing serious
physical injury, and 12 additional points when the death of
another person results from certain motor vehicle violations.
Points will be assessed for exceeding the speed limit in a school
zone by only five miles per hour or less;

(5)  Requires bicyclists approaching a stop sign to slow down or
stop before entering the intersection.  The bicyclist must yield
the right-of-way to any motor vehicle in the intersection or
approaching in a manner to constitute an immediate hazard.  A
bicyclist approaching a traffic light must stop before entering
the intersection, except that the bicyclist may cautiously make a
right-hand turn or a left-hand turn onto a one-way highway
without stopping;

(6)  Permits the riding of bicycles on the shoulder of the road
unless local regulations or Highways and Transportation
Commission regulations provide otherwise.  If shoulder travel is
prohibited, it will be clearly designated by signs;

(7)  Creates the crime of first degree involuntary manslaughter
when a motorist knowingly passes too close to or collides with a
bicyclist causing death.  Reckless operation of a motor vehicle
causing death to another person is second degree involuntary
manslaughter;

(8)  Creates the crime of second degree assault when recklessly
causing serious physical injury to another person with a motor
vehicle.  Recklessness will be presumed if it is shown that the
motorist overtook a bicyclist too closely by failing to leave a
safe distance of at least three feet.  If a person operates a
motor vehicle in a manner that violates a traffic law or
regulation and the violation causes serious physical injury to
another person, then the person is guilty of third degree
assault;

(9)  Provides specific revocation periods for any person who has
his or her license revoked for committing a felony using a motor
vehicle.  No person who has had his or her license revoked or
suspended will have the license reinstated until the person
participates in a driver-improvement program;

(10)  Requires participation in and successfully completion of a
driver-improvement program before a person will be eligible for a
limited driving privilege;

(11)  Allows counties and municipalities to establish maximum
school speed zones of 20 miles per hour.  The counties and
municipalities may establish a speed limit lower than 20 miles
per hour if it finds that a lower limit is needed to promote
public safety.  The counties or municipalities are allowed to
double the fines for traffic violations that occur within a
school zone; and

(12)  Creates three specific offenses for motorists who cause
physical injury, serious physical injury, or death to another
person.

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:14 am