Video: Irish club rider's very close brush on training spin

This car's speed and the closeness of his pass was scary. But that's only half the story; keep watching.

 

We've shared many videos of close passes here and highlighted the new Stayin' Alive at 1.5 campaign which is pushing for a compulsory passing distance between vehicle and cyclist of 1.5 metres on the roads.

Currently while the Road Safety Authority and a number of local councils are urging motorists to give cyclists 1.5 metres when they pass, there is no law against it.

So while cyclists may believe the close pass captured in the video below was a scary moment, the driver is under no obligation to give the cyclist any set passing distance.

And so he has broken no laws in that regard, which is important to point out here.

However, Cahir cyclist Paul Lafford shared this clip on his Facebook page saying he felt lucky he hadn't become a statistic.

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The overtaking vehicle passes Lafford, whose hand can be seen bottom right of shot, and the oncoming silver car at the same moment.

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The car passes closely and at speed. But it does that as an oncoming car is approaching with a truck behind it.

It means the overtaking driver has Lafford on his bike on his inside and the oncoming car passing him in the opposite direction on his outside, all happening at the same time.

Lafford said he was posting the video to raise awareness and urge motorists to give cyclists more time, adding if the video found its way back to the driver it might cause him pause for thought.

"As a bike rider, I'm no saint, I'll admit that and as a driver, I've made most mistakes in the book and I'll make plenty more," said Lafford on his Facebook post.

"However, it just takes one moment of madness, one mistake or one small error and lives can be destroyed forever. It's not worth it, no matter which side of the argument you are."

 

The pass