Law requiring California drivers to stay 3-feet from cyclists to go into effect

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A new state law will require drivers to stay at least 3-feet away from cyclists, though as our I-Team found out it can be difficult.

Each year in California more than 100 cyclists are killed in vehicle collisions.

On Monday, a truck struck and injured a rider on an electric bicycle in San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood. The cyclist was taken to the hospital.

California's new law goes into effect on Tuesday. It will require drivers to stay 3-feet away and only pass a cyclist at a speed that is reasonable and prudent. Violators will be fined.

Cyclists ABC7 News spoke with are happy with the new law. "The 3-feet law will definitely keep us safer out there," one man said.

"It fosters a little more awareness about bicyclists who share with traffic," another man said.

In San Francisco, lanes are an average of 8-feet wide.

Our I-Team rigged a car to test out the 3-foot buffer and found it difficult to stay 3-feet away from cyclists, while remaining in the lane.

The driver often had to follow the cyclist for blocks and that could lead to some serious congestion problems.