The California AAA explains to Will Campbell why it could not support a 3-foot passing law for bicycles:
When our amendments were not included, we took an oppose-unless-amended position on the bill and still attempted to work with the author and bill supporters to improve the bill. Amendments we sought included identifying the road geometric and traffic conditions where motorists could pass at less than three feet if passing at three feet would risk a crash with oncoming traffic or would otherwise be illegal.
In other words, the AAA wanted a loophole allowing motorists to make unsafe passing maneuvers.
“if passing at three feet would risk a crash with oncoming traffic”
I guess cars in California don’t come equipped with brakes?