❓ Mr. Tallentire asks about the rationale and protective effect of the newly announced minimum safe passing rules for cyclists. The Minister responds by outlining the rules, their purpose in clarifying safe distances, and their potential to reduce cyclist fatalities, while also contrasting the current government's action with the previous government's inaction.
AnsweredQoN 579Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROAD SAFETY — CYCLISTS
— MINIMUM SAFE PASSING RULES
579. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to
the Minister for Road Safety:
I refer to the
minimum safe passing rules announced on the weekend. Why are these rules
needed; and how will they protect people on bikes?
— MINIMUM SAFE PASSING RULES
579. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to
the Minister for Road Safety:
I refer to the
minimum safe passing rules announced on the weekend. Why are these rules
needed; and how will they protect people on bikes?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for his question and I commend him for his commitment to cycling and his
advocacy on behalf of those who cycle. Often in this place we tell people to do
as we say and then we do not do it ourselves, but in the member for Thornlie,
we have someone who not only advocates the benefits of cycling, but also
actually gets on with it and does it himself, and leads by example.
I am really pleased to announce that we have
fulfilled another election commitment by putting in these safe passing laws for
cyclists. These laws will apply as of 30 November. In a 60-kilometres-an-hour zone
or lower, drivers will need to leave a one-metre passing space. If the zone is
more than 60 kays, the passing space needs to be 1.5 metres. This really
corrects an anomaly in the Road Traffic Code, which has required drivers to
leave a safe distance but has not really specified what that safe distance is.
This provides clear instruction to people on what a safe distance should be,
and it is at least a metre if it is 60 kays or below, and at least 1.5 metres
if a vehicle is travelling at more than 60 kays.
I heard some members
opposite scoff about this; they no doubt have heard some of the people who do
not think it works. I remind everyone in this house that already this year
seven cyclists have died on our roads. I do not want to see any cyclists killed
on our roads, and I think this clear guidance to road users will assist in the
prevention of death and serious injury. That is actually what lays behind this
election commitment and why we have moved relatively swiftly to enforce it.
I note that, at this
time, Tasmania, South Australia, New South Wales, the Australian Capital
Territory and Queensland all have similar laws in place. Indeed, Queensland
passed its legislation some three years ago, so these benefits have been in
place in Queensland for three years.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The member for Scarborough is interjecting
because she did not support this in government. She sought a bit of guidance
and a bit of advice, but she did not support the one-metre rule or the 1.5-metre
rule, and the previous government did not commit to this as an election
commitment. We made this election commitment because it was the right thing to
do, and now we have delivered.
for his question and I commend him for his commitment to cycling and his
advocacy on behalf of those who cycle. Often in this place we tell people to do
as we say and then we do not do it ourselves, but in the member for Thornlie,
we have someone who not only advocates the benefits of cycling, but also
actually gets on with it and does it himself, and leads by example.
I am really pleased to announce that we have
fulfilled another election commitment by putting in these safe passing laws for
cyclists. These laws will apply as of 30 November. In a 60-kilometres-an-hour zone
or lower, drivers will need to leave a one-metre passing space. If the zone is
more than 60 kays, the passing space needs to be 1.5 metres. This really
corrects an anomaly in the Road Traffic Code, which has required drivers to
leave a safe distance but has not really specified what that safe distance is.
This provides clear instruction to people on what a safe distance should be,
and it is at least a metre if it is 60 kays or below, and at least 1.5 metres
if a vehicle is travelling at more than 60 kays.
I heard some members
opposite scoff about this; they no doubt have heard some of the people who do
not think it works. I remind everyone in this house that already this year
seven cyclists have died on our roads. I do not want to see any cyclists killed
on our roads, and I think this clear guidance to road users will assist in the
prevention of death and serious injury. That is actually what lays behind this
election commitment and why we have moved relatively swiftly to enforce it.
I note that, at this
time, Tasmania, South Australia, New South Wales, the Australian Capital
Territory and Queensland all have similar laws in place. Indeed, Queensland
passed its legislation some three years ago, so these benefits have been in
place in Queensland for three years.
Mrs L.M. Harvey interjected.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : The member for Scarborough is interjecting
because she did not support this in government. She sought a bit of guidance
and a bit of advice, but she did not support the one-metre rule or the 1.5-metre
rule, and the previous government did not commit to this as an election
commitment. We made this election commitment because it was the right thing to
do, and now we have delivered.
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