Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to reasonable and prudent following distances while a person is operating a motor vehicle, and making penalties applicable
Sponsored by the House Public Safety Committee, Rep. Zach Dieken (R)
Topics:Public safety & emergenciesTransportation
Same legislation: HF 89
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 17, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 21, 2025
- Done: House committeeFebruary 5, 2025
- Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Drivers would have to follow specific minimum distances behind other cars depending on how fast they are driving. These required gaps increase from 50 feet to 200 feet as the speed limit goes up. If a driver follows too closely and causes a serious injury or death, they could face extra fines or lose their driver's license.1
Read the official explanation
Current law prohibits a driver of a motor vehicle from following another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, considering the speed of such vehicles, other traffic on the highway, and the condition of the highway. A violation for following too closely is punishable by a scheduled fine of $135. This bill provides minimum distances considered reasonable and prudent while a person is following another vehicle in the same lane and direction of travel under clear conditions. The minimum reasonable distance increases in increments of 50 feet, from at least 50 feet to at least 200 feet, as the speed limit on the highway increases from not more than 35 miles per hour (MPH) to greater than 65 MPH. The scheduled fine for a violation is not amended.482A, if a person is convicted for a violation of the bill and the violation causes a serious injury, a court could impose an additional fine of $500 or suspend the person’s driver’s license for not more than 90 days, or both. If a person is convicted for a violation of the bill and the violation causes a death, a court could impose an additional fine of $1,000 or suspend the person’s driver’s license for not more than 180 days, or both.
Why it matters. Drivers would be required to maintain specific minimum distances from the vehicle ahead of them based on the posted speed limit when traveling under clear conditions. If a violation causes a serious injury or death, a person could face additional fines or driver's license suspensions.2
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91st General Assembly