The 3-foot laws exist now in 14 states; with Texas still in the runnig to become #15. It's a decent, "feel good" law, but the problem is that they are virtually never enforced. Tennessee's 3-foot passing law didn't protect David Meek in Chattanooga early last month when he was buzzed by a mail truck, which caught his left pannier and dragged him and his bike under the rear wheels. Dave died; the driver, protesting "I never saw him," was not indicted for violating the law despite the prima facie evidence of the dead cyclist.

Arkansas has had the law on the books now for 2 years, NO ONE has been cited or ticketed for its violation; for the most part even the cops don't know the law is on the books because there's been no outreach or education about it outside of the various "Road I" classes.