2 Sep 2015

Wide berth: Govt looks at passing distances

7:18 pm on 2 September 2015

The Government is considering mandatory minimum distances for vehicles passing cyclists.

A buffer zone for cyclists was one of the recommendations from a cycling safety panel report released late last year.

The panel recommended a 1 metre passing distance between drivers and cyclists for speed limits up to 60 kms/hr, and 1.5 metres for speeds above that.

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Photo: Wikicommons

It noted that several states in America and Australia has legislated minimum passing distances.

Associate Transport Minister Craig Foss has asked officials to look into the idea and also consider the mandatory fitting of guards on the sides of trucks to prevent cyclists touching the wheels.

The work is expected to be complete by mid to late 2016.