Vulnerable Road User Laws: Enhanced Protection for Cyclists

Vulnerable Road User (VRU) laws create enhanced penalties for drivers who injure or kill cyclists, pedestrians, and others who share the road without the protection of a vehicle.

What Are Vulnerable Road Users?

Typically includes:

• Cyclists

• Pedestrians

• Motorcyclists

• Scooter riders

• People in wheelchairs

• Road workers

How VRU Laws Help

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Criminal Penalties Drivers who carelessly injure VRUs face:

• Higher fines

• Mandatory community service

• License suspension

• Traffic school requirements

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Civil Impact VRU law violations can support:

• Negligence per se claims

• Higher damage awards

• Punitive damages arguments

States with VRU Laws

Over 30 states have some form of VRU protection, including:

• Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut

• Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois

• Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada

• New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah

• Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin

What VRU Laws Don't Do

Most VRU laws don't:

• Create automatic civil liability

• Guarantee criminal prosecution

• Prevent accidents

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They're deterrents and support for civil claims, not silver bullets.

Advocating for Better Laws

If your state lacks VRU protections:

• Contact your state legislators

• Work with cycling advocacy groups

• Support Vision Zero initiatives