Ireland to finally introduce a 1.5m overtaking rule
Great news today for Irish road safety as Minister for Transport, Shane Ross T.D., agrees legislation to ensure a minimum safe passing distance of 1.5m for vehicles overtaking cyclists.
According to a post on the Cycling Ireland website, this rule will be enacted into legislation as soon it can be approved by the Attorney General’s Office and appropriate measuring equipment can be procured by An Garda Síochána (Ireland’s national police force).
As a keen cyclist I am really looking forward to this rule becoming enforceable as a piece of legislation. Over the past 6 months the issue of vehicles dangerously overtaking cyclists appears to have been worsening — I’ve personally have had a ridiculously number of near misses when out cycling. Worse still has been the related aggression, regularly accompanied by fowl language, horn blowing and rude gestures.
After my most recent rattle (which I wrote about here), having politely approached the overtaker at the next junction to ask if he thought he was driving safely when he overtook me so closely on a blind bend immediately through a roundabout, I was told that “I was only on a bike”… So my life and physical safety don’t matter because I’m on two wheels and don’t have an engine?
Thankfully, we will soon have legislation to formally suggest otherwise! A big shout out to Phil Skelton who I gather has tirelessly campaigned for this particular piece of quite possibly life saving legislation via his ‘Stayin’ Alive at 1.5' campaign.
A video of the Minister announcing this awesome news at a press conference is available here. Had a rattle with dodgy driver or got a an idea for improving road safety? Let me know in the comments or contact me directly here!
