Lawmakers are finally beginning to recognize the disparity of risk between the automobile drivers and bicyclists who share the same roads. State Senator Eric Adams of New York has teamed up with the Wendy Clouse, the mother of 23-year-old Jasmine Herron, tragically killed in a bicycle accident when a passenger in a parked car opened her door into her moving bicycle and knocked her in to the path of an oncoming bus; a type of accident that is frequently referred to as a "dooring." Krystal Francis, the driver who opened the car door into Herron, has been indicted on felony charges because she left the scene of the accident. Francis was also driving with a suspended license at the time of the incident.

Under New York State Traffic Law current at the time of the accident, "No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person that leave the door open on the side of the vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers." Failure to do otherwise will result in the driver being held negligent for the injuries caused to those affected. This clearly outlines Francis' culpability but was not enough to deter her from casually and fatally opening her door on Herron.

Senator Adams and Ms. Herron's mother propose a law to add a class on avoiding accidents with bicyclists, skateboarders and rollerbladers to the mandatory five-hour driver education program in New York State.

This proposal, if written into law, will begin to pave the way to greater safety for all bicyclists in the United States and reduce the "might-equals-right" situation that exists on the roads today. While bike lanes are necessary part of bicyclist safety, drivers frequently use these lanes illegally or park within them at their own convenience, forcing every bicycle rider to be constantly on high alert at all times.

Drivers need to be educated early on about their responsibility to protect other, more vulnerable people who share the roads with them, and be skilled at employing tactics and techniques that minimize the chance of a bicycle-and-car-collision.

Fatal accidents such as these have a supremely negative effect on multiple lives - if laws like the Jasmine Herron's law are widely enacted then hopefully great numbers of unnecessary cyclist's fatalities and injuries can be prevented.

Drivers interested in minimizing the danger of having a bicycle should follow these tips regularly while on the road:

1. Check for bicyclists before opening car doors to avoid "dooring" a moving bicycle.
2. Allow ample space for children and young people on bicycles; younger bicyclists are less competent and unpredictable.
3. Use extra caution on the quiet residential streets that bicyclists prefer.
4. Do not honk at cyclists or follow them closely; both can startle or intimidate the cyclist and lead them to ride erratically.
5. Pass cyclists slowly, allowing space between your vehicle and the bike rider, and always check bike lanes for activity before crossing them.