Increased traffic collisions over the past few years have been a nationwide and statewide trend. To help address this problem, several new state traffic safety laws went into effect with the new year. 

Here are a few:

Vehicles passing bicycle riders (AB 1909)

This new law requires drivers to change lanes before passing a cyclist to provide more room if another lane is available and traffic conditions permit the lane change to be done safely. If another lane is not available, or traffic conditions do not permit a safe lane change, drivers must slow down and pass only when it’s safe. The prior rule required cars to give people on bikes a 3-foot margin when passing, but that was difficult to enforce and there is not enough space in some situations. 

E-bikes in bike lanes (AB 1909)

The law also ends the statewide ban on Class 3 e-bikes using bike lanes, equestrian trails, and hiking and recreational trails. Class 3 e-bikes are the fastest, traveling at up to 28 mph, and have a minimum age of 16 to ride. (Learn about the three classes of e-bikes). 

Electric Bicycles: Safety and Training Program (AB 1946)

This new law requires the CHP to work with other traffic safety agencies and organizations to develop statewide safety and training programs for electric bicycle users. This training program, which will consist of electric bicycle riding safety, emergency maneuver skills, rules of the road and laws pertaining to electric bicycles, will launch on the CHP’s website in September 2023.

Harsher penalties for “sideshows” (SB 1472/AB 2000)

Sideshows are informal stunt driving events usually held in vacant parking lots and public intersections. They often involve donuts and other reckless driving while spectators run in between moving cars and stream the event on social media. SB 1472 expands the circumstances constituting “gross negligence” for vehicular manslaughter to include participation in sideshow activities. AB 2000 adds parking lots to the list of locations that prohibit sideshows (they’re already prohibited on public roads.)

Pedestrian crossings (AB 2147)

This law prohibits peace officers from stopping pedestrians for crossing the street outside of a crosswalk (jaywalking) unless there is an immediate danger of a collision. Other states have passed similar laws, citing the fact that jaywalking citations tend to be given primarily to people of color and in low-income communities. For traffic safety, we still recommend finding an intersection and ideally a crosswalk, whenever possible.

The CHP has more information about new laws that went into effect Jan. 1. The DMV put out a similar summary.

Safer streets in Carlsbad 

One of the elements of the City of Carlsbad’s Safer Streets Together Plan is to work with its state legislators on a program to license e-bike riders. This is being worked on with the state lobbyist and more information will be shared as it’s available.