Austin might get its' own 3-foot passing rule?!? NICE!

I just read this exciting bit of news on one of the local Statesman blogs, regarding a possible city ordinance banning cell phone texting in cars and on bikes, as well as a local 3-foot passing law:

Council members Mike Martinez and Chris Riley and Mayor Lee Leffingwell are proposing to prohibit writing, sending or reading text messages, instant messages or e-mails or viewing the Internet on a cell phone or other portable electronic device while driving a vehicle or a bike.

They also want to require a 3-foot distance between vehicles and other “vulnerable road users” on the roadside, including cyclists, pedestrians and people in wheelchairs. Either party — the driver or the other road user — could be ticketed for failing to keep that distance, Martinez said.

Martinez said the violations would likely be Class C misdemeanors, which each carry a fine of up to $500 and can be appealed in Municipal Court. The goals of the changes are to improve public safety and bring greater public awareness to dangerous driving behaviors, Martinez said.

Should be interesting to see how this goes. If they get the OK at the next City Council meeting, it could take a couple months to draft the actual ordinance and get it approved. It sure would be nice though.