A new law effective Sept. 16 will require motorists to give bicyclists more room, California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Jaime Coffee said.

According to the law, a driver must allow 3 feet of distance when overtaking or passing a bicyclist. If 3 feet is not available, a driver must then slow to a safe speed and pass when no danger is present.

“Motorists are reminded to pay close attention as the school year approaches and exercise caution when they see bicyclists on the road,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said in a news release.

“Be sure to move over or slow down to pass when you see a bicyclist on the road and help keep our roadways a safer place.”

Benicia police Lt. Scott Przekurat said motorists and cyclists alike need to focus on safety and observance of traffic laws, including the new one that starts this month.

“Adults, teenagers and children of all ages must have safety at the forefront at all times while riding a bicycle,” Przekurat said.

“Everyone who rides a bicycle must understand that a bike is no match when up against a motor vehicle.”

He said bicyclists should always be aware of their surroundings and ride defensively. And they need to follow the same rules of the road that drivers do — which includes avoiding being distracted by cell phones or other things.

“Bicyclists must obey the traffic laws that are also required of motorists. This means stopping at stop signs, red lights and obeying traffic signs,” Przekurat said. “Bicyclists can receive a traffic citation the same as a driver of a motor vehicle.”

The new law comes into effect at a time when children are riding bicycles to school, Coffee said. He said the danger surrounding motor vehicle traffic can affect a child’s safe passage to and from school.

He pointed out that according to Safekids.org, more children ages 5 to 14 are seen in emergency rooms for injuries related to bicycling than any other sport.

Coffee said data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records Syste determined that 153 bicyclists were killed in California in 2012, a 7-percent increase from 2011. “Those deaths accounted for 5 percent of the total collision fatalities in California,” he said.

Bicycle helmets are required in California for children younger than 18 and can reduce the risk of severe brain injuries by 88 percent, he said, noting that only 45 percent of children 14 and younger usually wear them.

“Motorists should be extra cautious when driving near a school,” Przekurat said. “There is an increase in bicycle and pedestrian traffic, and during peak times the roadways near a school will become very congested.”

Most bicycle riders in Benicia, particularly children, favor wearing a helmet, he said.

“I have not heard of a challenge getting kids to wear helmets,” he said. “Through education in the schools, bicycle rodeos and Safe Routes to School (events), more kids today are wearing helmets. It appears the education component is working.”

Przekurat said back-to-school time is a focus period, for bicyclists as well as Safe Routes to School and bicycle rodeos. But Benicia police don’t limit their concerns to bicyclists to that time.

“This is an ongoing, year-round education process to improve bicycle safety,” he said, because there appears to be an increase in bicycle use and growing numbers in local bicycle clubs that ride in and through Benicia.

Through its road construction projects, the work of its Community Sustainability Commission and the goals of its Climate Action Plan, Benicia has been encouraging more people to leave their cars at home and use their bicycles.

Sometimes that has led to conflicts as the two methods of travel try to share the road.

“(A) common complaint from bicyclists is vehicles failing to yield to the cyclist, such as pulling out in front of a bicyclist,” Przekurat said.

“Also common is getting too close to the bicyclists when passing while going in the same direction.”

But those in cars and trucks have their own complaints, too, he said.

“Motorists often complain about bicyclists not stopping at stop signs and riding in the middle of the roadway, as opposed to the far right side of the road,” Przekurat said.

“Drivers and bicyclists when in close proximity to each other should make eye contact with each other in the event one or the other is distracted and not paying attention.

“Advice from Benicia officers given to bicyclists is to make yourself as visible as possible with a front and rear light on the bike, as well as reflectors,” he said.

“Also, wear bright reflective clothing that grabs the attention of motorists on the roadway.”

That goes for anyone riding on two wheels instead of four, he said.

“People riding motorcycles or bicycles not only need to watch out for each other, but most importantly (they) need to drive safely and watch out for other motorists as well as obstacles and potential hazards that may be in the roadway.”

Riding at night requires even more effort to increase a cyclist’s visibility, Przekurat said. That can be accomplished through reflective clothing and lights.

“For motorists and bicycles to coexist peacefully it is imperative for both to obey the traffic laws,” he said.