§ 31-15-20. Unsafe passing of a vulnerable road user.
(a) For purposes of this section, “vulnerable road user” means:
(1) A pedestrian who is acting in compliance with chapter 18 of this title;
(2) A bicyclist who is acting in compliance with chapter 19 of this title;
(3) A police officer or emergency worker on duty when outside of a vehicle;
(4) A highway worker performing duties outside of a vehicle;
(5) A person riding on or driving a wheelchair, motorized or not, who is acting in compliance with chapter 18 of this title;
(6) A person using a skateboard, inline skates, or roller skates who is acting in compliance with chapter 19 of this title;
(7) A person riding on or driving an animal;
(8) A person riding on a scooter who is acting in compliance with chapter 19.1 of this title.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the general or public laws to the contrary, any person, while operating a motor vehicle on a street or highway, who fails to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a vulnerable road user, who is the proximate cause of injury, serious injury, or death to the vulnerable road user, shall be guilty of an offense pursuant to this section and shall be sentenced, in addition to any other applicable criminal or civil statute, as follows:
(1) When bodily injury of a vulnerable road user is caused by a violation of this section, the offending operator shall be fined two hundred dollars ($200).
(2) When serious bodily injury of a vulnerable road user is caused by a violation of this section, the offending operator shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500), and the driver’s license shall be suspended for a period of three (3) months.
(3) When the death of a vulnerable road user is caused by a violation of this section, the offending operator shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000) and the driver’s license shall be suspended for a period of one year.
(c) As used in this section, “serious bodily injury” means physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death or causes serious physical disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
History of Section.P.L. 2021, ch. 63, § 1, effective June 25, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 66, § 1, effective June 25, 2021.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 31 - Motor and Other Vehicles
Chapter 31-15 - Passing, Use of Lanes, and Rules of the Road
Section 31-15-1. - Right half of road.
Section 31-15-2. - Slow traffic to right.
Section 31-15-3. - Passing of vehicles proceeding in opposite directions.
Section 31-15-4. - Overtaking on left.
Section 31-15-5. - Overtaking on the right.
Section 31-15-6. - Clearance for overtaking.
Section 31-15-7. - Places where overtaking prohibited.
Section 31-15-8. - Posting of no passing zones.
Section 31-15-9. - One way highways.
Section 31-15-10. - Rotary traffic islands.
Section 31-15-11. - Laned roadways.
Section 31-15-12. - Interval between vehicles.
Section 31-15-12.1. - Entering intersections.
Section 31-15-12.2. - Don’t Block the Box.
Section 31-15-13. - Divided highways.
Section 31-15-14. - Entry or leaving of limited-access roadways.
Section 31-15-15. - Designation and posting of controlled-access roadways.
Section 31-15-16. - Use of emergency break-down lane for travel.
Section 31-15-17. - Crossing bicycle lane.
Section 31-15-18. - Unsafe passing of a person operating a bicycle; penalty.
Section 31-15-19. - Two-way left turn lanes.
Section 31-15-20. - Unsafe passing of a vulnerable road user.