Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

House approves McNamara legislation to protect vulnerable road users

 

STATE HOUSE — The House of Representatives today passed legislation introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) that would protect vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.

The bill (2021-H 5093) would provide for specific fines and sanctions to operators of motor vehicles who fail to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a vulnerable road user causing injury, serious injury, or death to the vulnerable road user.

“This was a 3.4 percent increase in national pedestrian fatalities in 2018, and a 6.3 percent increase in bicyclist fatalities,” said Representative McNamara. “As a lifelong cyclist, I’ve noticed motor vehicles coming a lot closer to vulnerable road users — often dangerously close. I’m sure distracted driving has led to this — at least in part. This legislation will provide a layer of protection to those who share the road with automobiles.”

The bill, which has the support of the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition, defines vulnerable road user as a pedestrian; a bicyclist; a police officer or emergency worker on duty when outside of a vehicle; a highway worker performing duties outside of a vehicle; a person riding on or driving a wheelchair, motorized or not; a person using a skateboard, inline skate, or roller skates; a person riding on or driving an animal; or a person riding on a scooter.

Those found in violation would be fined $200 for a collision resulting in bodily injury, $500 for serious bodily injury, or $1,000 for a collision resulting in death.

The measure now moves to the Senate, where similar legislation (2021-S 0318) has been introduced by Sen. Stephen R. Archambault (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Providence, Johnston).

 

 Follow us on social media! 
Lawyers in the Donald Trump "hush money" trial are selecting six alternates today. A 12-member jury is already chosen for the New York trial, which could begin Monday. The former president is accused of falsifying records to cover up a "hush money" payment to an adult film star before he was elected in 2016.        House Speaker Mike Johnson is pushing ahead on several bills on aid to U.S. allies, with a separate bill for the border. The move is angering the conservative flank of the GOP who have threatened to oust him over the move. They argue the border should be tied to Ukraine to force Democrats to vote for its passage.       More anti-Israel protests are taking place at New York's Columbia University. Yesterday, the NYPD confirmed that 114 arrests were made yesterday after school officials called in police. Officers cleared out demonstrations that were camping out on the school's south lawn. Mayor Eric Adams said the school's students have a proud history of protests, but they're not allowed to trespass.        Title Nine rules are getting a major overhaul after a push from the Biden administration. The changes announced today come in an effort to boost rights of sexual assault victims and LGBTQ students, fulfilling a key Biden campaign promise. Colleges will now be allowed to use a lower standard to find someone guilty of sexual misconduct, reversing policies put in place by former President Trump.       Taylor Swift is releasing a second installment to her new album, "The Tortured Poets Department." The highly-anticipated new album dropped at midnight, featuring 16 songs including the first single, "Fortnite." Shortly after 2am Eastern, Swift announced that it was actually a "secret double album," and released 15 more songs that she called "the second installment" of "The Tortured Poets Department."       Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry continues to top the NBA jersey sales chart. LeBron James came in second followed by Jayson Tatum, Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo [[ Antay-tu-koompo ]]. Meanwhile, the NBA playoffs roll on tonight.        

Old News Archives