The UK Department for Transport is looking into the possibility of enforcing a minimum distance between cars and bicycles for the first time. Countries who have adopted the measure include Australia, Spain, France, Germany and Portugal. Is it time Ireland did too?
By Brian Canty
New legislation in the UK could see motorists fined up to £5,000 for driving too close to cyclists.
The Department for Transport is looking into the possibility of enforcing a minimum distance between cars and bicycles for the first time.
Figures released last year showed that cyclists were 17 times more likely to be killed on the road than those travelling in cars.
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The statistics illustrated that for every one billion miles travelled on UK roads, 35 cyclists were killed in collisions compared to just two motorists in 2014.
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Currently in south Australia, motorists must give cyclists at least one metre of room.
This was following a ruling introduced in October last year where road users have been required to leave at least one metre when overtaking cyclists on roads with speed limits up to and including 60km/h.
On roads with higher speed limits, the minimum passing distance is now 1.5 metres.
In Ireland at present there is no such legislation regarding a minimum distance between motorists and cyclists.
This is despite extensive lobbying by the ‘Stayin’ alive at 1.5’ group whose aim is to pursue the adoption of a law that requires motorists to give cyclists 1.5 metres clearance when passing from the rear.
France, Spain, Portugal and Germany already have a minimum passing distance in place.
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