As the summer driving season approaches, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has launched a “Share the Road” campaign, highlighting the new “3-feet” law designed to provide a buffer zone to bicyclists. The goal of the campaign is to improve the safety of all travelers, including bicyclists pedestrians and equestrians, through awareness and education.

The campaign encourages travelers to visit www.sharetheroadct.org for information regarding travel safety. In order to determine the reach of this pilot, the web site will record the number of visitors and how they became aware of the site.

Improving the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists is an essential element of the Statewide Safety Program because pedestrians and bicyclists are at a disproportionate risk of fatality and serious injury as a percentage of all accident types. From 2005 to 2007, for example, 104, or almost 14 percent of the 796 people killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians; 5 percent of those were under the age of 18.

Three bicyclists are killed in Connecticut in an average year. Many more are seriously injured. Overall, almost 60 percent of accidents involving bicyclists took place at an intersection.  In 49 percent of the accidents, the cyclists failed to properly grant the right of way at an intersection or other location. In 15 percent of cases, the cyclist was riding on the wrong side of the road, traveling against traffic. In 13 percent of accidents, the cyclists failed to obey the traffic control devices such as stop signs or traffic signals.

The new “3 feet” law, which took effect October 1, 2008, requires motorists to allow at least 3 feet of separation when overtaking and passing cyclists on Connecticut roads. Motorists who fail to do so risk fines.

The pilot campaign is concentrated primarily in the greater Hartford area, with some reach into the New Haven and Stamford areas.  Share the Road messages are being aired on area radio stations and will be displayed on CT Transit buses through the summer. If successful, the Department of Transportation hopes to continue and expand the “Share the Road” campaign in the future.