TDs at loggerheads on proposals for overtaking cyclists

A Government Minister has hit out at legislation put forward by his fellow Galway East TD to impose stricter fines and penalty points on motorists who do not leave a metre and a half of a gap when overtaking cyclists.

OPW Minister Sean Canney described the plan as ‘extreme and unworkable’ and does not believe that it will become law – not least because so many TDs were opposed to it.

The Road Traffic Bill being put forward by Deputy Ciaran Cannon will, if passed, require motorists to obey the minimum passing distance of a metre and a half (around five feet) when overtaking cyclists.

Failure to comply with this will incur an €80 fine and three penalty points if it was passed into law.

But Minister Canney said that he could not understand where his fellow Galway East TD was coming from.

“If it was implemented to the letter of the law, then motorists would have to overtake cyclists while driving on ditches or in adjoining fields”, the independent TD added.

Minister Canney said that he did not believe that the Fine Gael TD had properly thought through this proposed piece of legislation and particularly when it refers to rural County Galway.

“Every weekend groups of cyclists gather at specific locations before embarking on cycles that could take them to various parts of the county. Invariably, they use the least trafficked roads to avoid any disruption for motorists.

“But most of these roads are no wider than ten feet and with two cyclists cycling abreast, it would be impossible for motorists to keep such a distance away from then when overtaking. They would be forced to drive on ditches or in fields in order to comply with such a law,” Minister Canney added.

Fine Gael’s Deputy Ciaran Cannon wants motorists to obey a 1.5 metre passing distance when overtaking cyclists or else face a hefty fine and penalty points. He said that this law would create a safe space on our roads in which cyclists would feel protected from passing traffic.

According to Deputy Cannon the proposed legislation is in the interests of children attending their local school or families out for their Sunday spin. He wants a designated space where cyclists can feel safe and protected.

However, his Government colleague Minister Sean Canney disagrees. “It is obvious that Deputy Cannon does not realise that the vast majority of cyclists use roads that are so narrow that it is nearly impossible to overtake.

“And even if they do, it is not possible to adhere to a 1.5 metre passing width. I cannot see this proposed legislation getting any further and if it does, it is not in the interests of motorists or any safety measures.

“Also, it hasn’t a hope in hell of being implemented because we do not have sufficient Garda resources to police every rural road where there is a presence of cyclists”, Minister Canney added.

But last week’s launch of the campaign also coincided with hundreds of cyclists gathering in Dublin city centre to highlight road fatalities involving people on bicycles.

Speaking at the event, Dr Mike McKillen, spokesman for the Irish Cyclists’ Advocacy Network, said he welcomed the publication of the Bill.

“This piece of legislation needs to be passed. We’ve got to change mindsets out there,” he said.

“The 1.5 metre rule is absolutely essential that drivers understand they have to change driving behaviour – we get comments in all the time from people saying drivers are coming too close and driving too fast, I won’t cycle.

“Virtually no children cycle to school now as parents understand that road traffic is hostile to cyclists. Traffic conditions must be managed to promote active travel for children and the 1.5 metre rule is so crucial here.”

Countries that have introduced the 1.5-metre minimum distance law include France, Belgium, Portugal and Australia, 26 US states and several provinces in Canada.

This campaign for a similar law in Ireland was spearheaded by Wexford cyclist Phil Skelton, who felt compelled to take action when two local cyclists died from injuries sustained in close passing incidents with motorists.

“If you are not a cyclist it can be very difficult to imagine just how intimidating it is to be overtaken by a vehicle too closely.

The creation of a virtual safety zone through the introduction of Minimum Passing Distance Law is not just for middle aged men in Lycra, this is aimed at all people who ride bicycles and especially those who are currently too scared to do so,  he said.