Drivers need to wait only seconds to save cyclists’ lives

Five to 20 seconds is usually all it takes. Countless times during my bicycle commute to and from work motorists have crossed a solid double yellow line and illegally passed me on a section of road that had no bike lane nor paved shoulder with oncoming traffic.

Today had the most glaring examples. A driver in a tree service grapple and dump truck crossed the double line and sped past me. Oncoming traffic had to veer off the road and come to a complete stop to avoid a head-on collision. Following that illegal and dangerous pass were at least three other drivers who crossed the solid lines with oncoming traffic.

With each example of such illegal and dangerous passes, I shake my head in disbelief. Those drivers would only need to wait five to 20 seconds to safely and legally pass. Please take the few moments that it takes to allow oncoming traffic to proceed normally before passing. The accident you prevent or life you save may be yours, mine or others.

This story was originally published May 26, 2017 at 11:11 AM with the headline "Drivers need to wait only seconds to save cyclists’ lives."