Almost €450,000 has been allocated to 19 local authorities in Ireland so they can erect signs warning drivers about the need to pass cyclists safely.
In the Republic there is now a specific motoring offence of dangerously overtaking a cyclist, which is punishable by penalty points and a fine.
Since the new offence was created last year some cyclists have taken self-recorded video of dangerous overtaking by drivers to the gardai, who have taken action against the drivers.
Now local authorities have applied for funding made available to them by the Department of Transport to erect signs to remind and warn drivers that they must overtake cyclists carefully and at a distance.
The new signs will urge drivers to allow 1m or 1.5m when overtaking a rider, even though the new offence of “dangerously overtaking a cyclist” does not stipulate those distances and is more general.
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One of the council’s to receive the money is Mayo County
Council and it said it was looking forward to getting the signs in place and
making the roads of Mayo safer for cyclists.
“Close passes are very intimidating and can easily put
people off cycling. Drivers, please be courteous and imagine it was you or one
of your family on that bike. Each extra cyclist can mean one less car on the
road. It’s a win-win situation,” said Brendan Mulroy, cathaoirleach
of Mayo County Council.
The council’s road safety officer Noel Gibbons said he
wanted Mayo to be regarded as a county that was very safe for cyclists.
“Through initiatives such as this one we want to remind
motorists and cyclists how vital it is that they abide by the laws of the road
at all times in regard to cyclists and other vulnerable road users, and the
potential serious and fatal consequences of not doing so,” he said.
“When drivers’ overtake cyclists without giving enough
space it doesn’t just put them in danger, it puts many off cycling and this
fear is then passed onto the rest of the family.”
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