Let’s bring awareness to vulnerable road users.

After ten years of effort, the Massachusetts General Laws have been updated with regards to vulnerable road users, making Massachusetts the second state in the country to mandate a minimum passing distance of four feet and reduced speed when passing a “vulnerable user”, (i) a pedestrian, including a person engaged in work upon a way or upon utility facilities along a way or engaged in the provision of emergency services within the way; (ii) a person operating a bicycle, handcycle, tricycle, skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates, non-motorized scooter, wheelchair, electric personal assistive mobility device, horse, horse-drawn carriage, motorized bicycle, motorized scooter, or other micromobility device, or a farm tractor or similar vehicle designed primarily for farm use; or (iii) other such categories that the registrar may designate by regulation.

On April 1, 2023, amended vulnerable road users laws went into effect in Massachusetts. These laws were all passed as part of “An Act to Reduce Traffic Fatalities” in an effort to increase roadway safety across the commonwealth.

Steve Stearns, a cyclist and local advocate, approached Millbury Police Chief Brian Lewos with a proposal to promote awareness of the revised vulnerable road user law. The idea was to affix magnetic Public Service Advisory (PSA) signs on a few police SUVs as a means of informing Millbury's residents and those who pass through Millbury of the amendments to state law. Chief Brian Lewos readily accepted the proposal and authorized the PSA. Consequently, residents should expect to observe these signs on a few of the police SUVs in the town.