PA State police and PennDOT raising awareness of safety laws
Bicycles, motorcycles, pedestrians, work zones and emergency responder laws are the focus
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Scott LaMar
Aired; February 22nd, 2024.
February 18-24 is Highway Safety Law Awareness Week in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation or PennDOT are reminding motorists about bicycle, motorcycle, pedestrian, work zone and emergency responder safety laws.
Joining us on The Spark Thursday were Trooper Megan Frazer, Public Information Officer with Troop H of the Pennsylvania State Police and Fritzi Schreffler, Safety Press Officer with PennDOT.
Trooper Megan Frazer and PennDOT’s Fritzi Schreffler
Tips and information from PennDOT during Highway Safety Law Awareness Week:
BICYCLISTS
Bicycle Helmet Law:
- Pennsylvania law (Title 75, Section 3510) requires everyone under the age of 12 to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.
- This applies to anyone operating the bicycle, riding as a passenger, or riding in an attached restraining seat or trailer.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation strongly recommends that all bicyclists wear helmets whenever they ride.
- Ensure a proper helmet fit using these guidelines: https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/8019_fitting-a-helmet.pdf
General Bicycle Law:
Pennsylvania’s Vehicle Code provides that every person riding a pedalcycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and responsibilities applicable to a driver of a vehicle, with certain exceptions.
If you ride in violation of the traffic laws, you greatly increase your risk of a crash.
Riding on the Roadway:
- Bikes may be ridden on the shoulder of the road (in the same direction as the flow of traffic) but are not required to do so.
- Bikes may also ride on the right half of the roadway as follows:
- On a multilane roadway, bikes may be ridden in the right-most travel lane.
- On a two-lane roadway, a bike may be ridden in the right lane.
- On a roadway with no center line, a bike may be ridden anywhere on the right side of the roadway.
- Bikes may move from the right lane:
- When overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
- When preparing to make a left turn.
- When an obstruction exists that makes it necessary to change lanes or cross the center line with due care.
- Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast (side-by-side), unless on paths or parts of a roadway set aside for exclusive use of bicycles.
- A bicycle or motor vehicle may, with good caution, treat an intersection with an inoperable or malfunctioning traffic signal as a stop condition when red or as a caution condition when green or yellow.
- Often signals with embedded detectors will not respond to the bike awaiting a green light, and this is treated as “inoperable” under law.
- Motor vehicles must allow 4 feet of distance when overtaking a bicycle and travel at a careful and prudent speed. It is the motorist’s responsibility to provide this distance, not that of the cyclist.
- Motor vehicles may also overtake a bicycle in a no-passing zone to avoid excessive delays, but this must be done with due care and while providing the required 4 feet of clearance.
- No person shall open any door on a motor vehicle unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with traffic flow.
- Cyclists may be injured or killed when a door is opened in their line of travel (dooring). Therefore, a distance of 4 feet should be kept between parked motor vehicles and the line of travel when riding along parked vehicles.
Safety Talking Points:
- Always wear a helmet. Pennsylvania law requires all cyclists under age 12 to wear an approved bicycle helmet.
- Obey traffic laws.
- Obey stop signs and red lights.
- Never ride against the flow of traffic.
- Be predictable:
- Ride in a straight line with at least one hand on the handlebars.
- Check to be sure your path is clear, and change directions without swerving.
- Use hand signals to indicate when you are turning.
- Make yourself visible:
- Consider wearing bright cycling clothes.
- Put reflectors on your wheels and on the front and rear of your bike.
- At night, a front light and rear reflector are required.
- Maintain your bike:
- Carry a pump, a patch kit and a spare tube.
- Take care of yourself:
- Carry plenty of drinking water and snacks for energy.
- Bring your cellphone in case of an emergency.
For more information, visit PennDOT’s webpage on Bicycle Safety and Pennsylvania Laws.
MOTORCYCLISTS
Motorcycle Helmet Law:
- Pennsylvania Law (Title 75, Section 3525) requires that any person who operates or rides a motorcycle (including an autocycle) must wear protective headgear unless he or she is 21 years of age or older and has been licensed to operate a motorcycle for two full years or has completed a motorcycle safety course approved by PennDOT or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
- In addition, the operator or an occupant of a three-wheeled motorcycle or autocycle equipped with an enclosed cab is exempt from wearing a helmet.
- The Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program offers free motorcycle safety courses to Pennsylvania residents and active-duty military with a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license and motorcycle permit.
Safety Talking Points
Rider Safety Tips:
- Ride the bike that’s right for you. Your feet should reach the ground when you’re in the saddle, and the controls should be easy to operate.
- Always wear the proper clothing, use your headlight, and ride in the best lane position.
- Always let drivers know what you’re doing by using the correct signals.
- Keep your distance from others so you have more time to react and more space to adjust.
- Always be looking for potential hazards and anticipating how you will react. If a car can cross your path, assume that it will.
- Avoid obstacles by slowing down or going around them. On slippery roads, reduce your speed, use both brakes, and try to keep your bike as upright as possible.
Motorist Safety Tips:
- Be aware that motorcycles are small and may be difficult to see.
- Check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes and at intersections.
- Be aware that large vehicles can block a motorcycle from a motorist’s view and a motorcycle can suddenly appear out of nowhere.
- Allow for more following distance. Leave at least four seconds when following a motorcycle.
- Signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic.
- Allow a motorcyclist a full lane width as the motorcyclist needs the room to maneuver safely in all types of road conditions.
For more safety tips and information on proper gear and upkeep, visit PennDOT’s webpage on Motorcycle Safety.
PEDESTRIANS
General Pedestrian Law:
Pennsylvania’s Vehicle Code details the rights and duties of pedestrians.
Generally, people walking may cross the street at any point, but pedestrians and motorists must understand their responsibilities. Below are the basic laws to follow when crossing the street or driving.
- When a pedestrian crosses the street in a crosswalk, the driver must yield.
- Drivers are not required to yield until you begin to step into the crosswalk.
- Pedestrians should not walk or run unexpectedly into the path of a moving vehicle. Pedestrians should not assume drivers will see or yield. Look left, right, and left again before stepping out.
- It is illegal for drivers to pass a vehicle that is stopped for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, as the second driver may not see the pedestrian in the crosswalk.
- If a pedestrian crosses the street not at an intersection and there is no crosswalk, the pedestrian must yield to vehicles.
- When crossing the street at a signalized intersection, both pedestrians and motorists must obey the traffic-control devices.
- These signs and signals help identify who must yield.
- When walking along a road with sidewalks and its use is practicable, it is unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway.
Safety Talking Points
Tips for Pedestrians:
Cross only at crosswalks. Don’t cross between parked cars.
- Look left, right then left again and keep looking.
- Wait for a gap in traffic, then step one foot off the curb or fully enter crosswalk and make eye contact with approaching drivers.
- Always obey traffic signs and signals especially pedestrian count down timers.
- See and be seen – drivers need to see you to avoid you. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or carry a flashlight at night.
- Watch for turning vehicles at intersections, even if you have the right-of-way and proceeding lawfully.
- Watch your children. Children can’t judge a vehicle’s speed and distance and need the help of an adult to be safe.
- On streets with multiple lanes in each direction, be aware of what drivers in both near lanes are doing. If one driver is allowing you to cross, the other might not see you.
- If no sidewalk is available, walk as far on the side of the road as you can, and always walk against traffic.
- Always be aware of your surroundings, and never get distracted.
Tips for Motorists:
Slow down when approaching a crosswalk or intersection. Watch for pedestrians and be prepared to yield to them.
- Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks – the law requires motorists to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks at signalized and non-signalized intersections.
- Travel at a prudent speed. Don’t try to beat the light.
- Watch for mid-block crosswalks. Pedestrians have the right-of-way in mid-block crosswalks, so yield to them.
- Expect the unexpected – look out for children who may dart out between cars or buses or cross mid-block without a crosswalk.
- Drivers on streets with multiple lanes in each direction should be aware that pedestrians may be crossing all lanes.
WORKERS (Work Zone, Emergency Responders)
The Law:
Pennsylvania’s work zone safety laws are designed to protect both highway workers and motorists.
Posted Work Zones:
- Headlights on. All motorists are required to travel with their headlights turned on in all posted work zones, not just active work zones. It is necessary for drivers in vehicles with daytime running lights to turn on their headlights in order to activate their taillights.
- Speed-monitoring devices. Interstate work zones with a project cost exceeding $300,000 will have a speed-monitoring device to alert motorists of their speed prior to entering the work zone.
Active Work Zones
PennDOT manages two distinct programs relating to active work zones:
- Criminal Violations under 75 Pa. C.S. § 3326 (Duty of driver in construction and maintenance areas or on highway safety corridors) identify fines and penalties when an officer pulls you over for a violation.
- Posting of active work zones. Active work zones must be designated as such to notify motorists when they enter and leave the work zone. A white flashing light attached to the “Active Work Zone When Flashing” sign will indicate an active work zone. The flashing light will only be activated when workers are present and turned off when workers are not present.
- Fifteen-day loss of license for driving dangerously. Motorists caught driving 11 miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit in an active work zone, or who are involved in a crash in an active work zone and are convicted for failing to drive at a safe speed, automatically will lose their license for 15 days.
- Fines doubled/jail time increased. Fines for certain traffic violations — including speeding, driving under the influence, and failure to obey traffic devices — are doubled for active work zones. Also, the law provides for up to five years of additional jail time for individuals convicted of homicide by vehicle for a crash that occurred in an active work zone.
- Civil Violations under 75 Pa. C.S. § 3369 (Automated speed enforcement systems in active work zones) began in 2018. Section 3369 allows for a fine to be administered using calibrated and tested automated speed enforcement technology. Civil violations are only fines and don’t reflect any points or insurance ratings.
- The Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement (AWZSE) program uses vehicle-mounted systems to detect and record motorists exceeding posted work zone speed limits by 11 miles per hour or more using electronic speed timing devices.
- AWZSE systems are only operational in active work zones where workers are present.
- Work Zones that have an AWZSE system present and active will have unique signs in advance of the enforcement area, alerting drivers to the upcoming enforcement.
- Registered owners receive a warning letter for a first offense, a violation notice and $75 fine for a second offense, and a violation notice and $150 fine for third and subsequent offenses.
- These violations are civil penalties only; no points are assessed to driver’s licenses.
- For more information on the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program, including a list of projects where the units are deployed, visit https://workzonecameras.penndot.gov/.
Move Over Law
Pennsylvania’s Move Over Law requires drivers approaching an emergency response area who are unable to safely merge into a lane farther away from the response area to “pass the emergency response area at a speed of no more than 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit and reasonable for safely passing.” An emergency response area is where an emergency vehicle has its lights flashing, or where road crews or emergency responders have lighted flares, posted signs, or try to warn travelers.
- Act 105 of 2020, signed on October 29, 2020 and effective 180 days later on April 27, 2021:
- Creates a new point system that imposes two points for failure to merge into the lane not next to the emergency response area.
- Sets fines at $500 for first-time offenders, $1,000 for a second offense, and $2,000 for a third or subsequent offense.
- Requires a 90-day license suspension for a third or subsequent offense. The license suspension also applies to incidents that seriously injure or kill another person. The suspension is six months if the person injured or killed is an emergency service provider or was near a disabled vehicle.
- Sets additional fines of up to $10,000 for violators who injure or kill an emergency service responder or a person in or near a disabled vehicle.
- Doubled fines for several traffic violations when committed in an emergency response area when first responders are present.
- A similar law (Title 75, Section 4572.2) requires motorists to move over or slow down when approaching a stationary trash or recycling truck.
- Disabled vehicles are covered by the Move Over law when they display at least two of the following markings:
- Vehicular hazard signal lamps.
- Caution signs or other traffic control device.
- Road flares.
Portable Emergency Warning Devices
Title 75, Section 4530 requires any truck class III or greater, truck tractor, bus, or any motor vehicle towing a trailer carry at least three portable emergency warning devices and display the devices when stopped on a roadway or shoulder for 10 minutes outside of an urban district, or on a divided highway anywhere, even in an urban district (like I-95 in Philadelphia).
