The Department of Justice in Ireland is stalling on new close-pass legislation because it fears it is unenforceable. Meanwhile, the BBC has made this programme. Hopefully Irish law-makers will be watching.
BBC show on cyclist close-pass laws enforcement
Seven months on from the publication of a new Bill that would create a new offence of close-passing cyclists, the Government continues to dither.
Advice within the Department of Justice on the matter has been obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and shows senior officials believe the law would unenforceable.
The Government has been advised that cyclists may also need to pass vehicles at 1.5 or 1 metre to make the legislation equitable.
Meanwhile, in the North and in Great Britain the police forces are in full swing enforcing their new close-pass regime.
It seems incredible that the Irish officials can’t simply look to the North or Britain for a working example of the enforcement they believe would be so difficult to achieve in the Republic.
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But now BBC is making it really easy for the Irish officials. They’ve made a TV programme on exactly how the British police are enforcing the laws.
So hopefully those advising the Government can get a hold of the show and all sit down together and watch it.
Here’s the trailer for the show tomorrow evening, below, for them to get started.
We wouldn’t want to hit them with too much new information all in one go – best to warm them up a little first.
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How close is too close?
Research shows regular riders will experience one #closepass or near miss a week.
Mon, 7.30pm BBC1#cycling pic.twitter.com/kB54j2gslt
— BBC Inside Out South (@insideoutsouth) October 22, 2017
Galway East TD Ciaran Cannon and Government chief whip Regina Doherty published the close-passing Bill in February.
It would see motorists forced to obey a minimum passing distance of 1.5 metres – and one metre in zones with speed limits of under 50 km per hour- when overtaking cyclists.
Drivers who do not comply with the new rules will face an €80 fine and three penalty points, as proposed in the Bill.
The penalty would increase to €1,500 and five penalty points for cases that go to court.
It was hoped that the Bill would be passed before the Dáil rises for its summer break. But progress has been slow, to say the least.
The introduction of the new measures is being supported by the Stayin’ Alive at 1.5 campaign, which has been to the fore in advocating the change of rules.
Head of that campaign Phil Skelton said similar measures had been introduced in other countries including France, Belgium, Portugal and Australia, 26 US states and several provinces in Canada.
Research by the American League of Cyclists in 2014 found up to 40 per cent of cyclist fatalities are caused by cyclists being hit from behind by a motor vehicle travelling in the same direction.
Mr Skelton said he had begun his campaign after two cyclists he knew were killed in Wexford.
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