New Massachusetts laws to increase road safety go into effect on Saturday, April 1.
The Vulnerable Road Users laws include measures to help make all roadways safer for everyone, and especially for individuals who use transportation other than cars.
Among other provisions, the laws require drivers to stay at least four feet away when passing "vulnerable road users." According to the laws, these users include:
- People walking and biking
- Roadside workers
- People using wheelchairs
- Motorized bicycles, scooters, skateboards, roller skates, and other micromobility devices
- Horse riders and horse-drawn carriages
- Farm equipment
The new laws also require bicyclists to use rear red lights at night to ensure they're visible on roads, in addition to having a white headlight and a rear reflector.
More information about the Vulnerable Road Users laws and a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are available on the MassBike website.