Pedal Power ACT CEO Ian Ross with Detective Acting Station Sergeant Marcus Boorman. Photo: Michelle Kroll, Region Media.
ACT police officers will don lycra and get on their bikes to target motorists who aren’t obeying the minimum passing laws when overtaking cyclists.
In the ACT, drivers are required to keep a minimum passing distance of 1 metre when overtaking a cyclist at under 60 km/h, with a distance of 1.5 metres required if a driver is overtaking at more than 60 km/h. Drivers who fail to comply with the law can receive a $292 fine and a loss of two demerit points.
ACT Policing has announced they will conduct compliance activity targeting motorists who don’t obey the law when passing cyclists on ACT roads.
Detective Acting Station Sergeant Marcus Boorman said ACT Policing had focused on an educational approach since the laws came into effect but in the coming weeks they will “proactively enforce” the law.
“The upcoming activity will see police actively target the minority of motorists that are not doing the right thing,” Sergeant Boorman said.
“Canberra: you are on notice. The next cyclist you drive past could be a police officer, and fines and demerit points may be issued if you do not leave enough room.
“Officers will not be in police uniform, so they will look like any other cyclist.”
The ACT’s minimum passing laws were introduced in 2015 on a trial basis and were permanently implemented last year. During the two-year trial, only 11 motorists were issued with a traffic infringement notice or caution for not obeying the laws.
Pedal Power ACT CEO Ian Ross said it is a “truly terrifying experience” when cars pass too close. Photo: Kate Smith.
An ACT Government study, which was released in May, found that the majority of ACT drivers obey the minimum passing rules when overtaking cyclists on the road, with over 16,400 overtaking vehicles recorded during a four week period in 2018.
The study, which was undertaken by the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Automotive Safety Research, found 97.3 per cent of motorists kept a one-metre distance when the speed limit was below 60 km/h, while 88.8 per cent of drivers on roads with a speed limit above 60 km/h kept a distance of 1.5 metres.
Sergeant Boorman said more than one-in-ten motorists not obeying the 1.5-metre passing distance was not good enough.
“It is about everybody doing the best they can to promote road safety in the ACT,” he said. “If you are unsure, slow down, take those couple of seconds and leave plenty of room.”
Even though they will be dressed as cyclists, Sergeant Boorman also said his officers will not turn a blind eye to their fellow road users who do the wrong thing.
“I can assure you that while we are conducting this operation, if we see any cyclists that are not doing the right thing there will be consequences,” he said.
Pedal Power ACT chief Ian Ross welcomed the ACT Policing’s enforcement campaign, which is believed to be an Australian first. He said he hopes it will be as successful as similar campaigns in the UK which saw a 20 per cent reduction in cycling deaths and serious accidents.
“You can feel the wind and the suck of a car as it moves past you and you can get buffeted on the road,” Mr Ross shared. “It is a truly terrifying experience.
“Having police enforce the minimum passing distance laws is important not just for the people who are already riding, but to encourage more people to take up cycling for transport and recreation. We want everybody to feel safe and be safe when riding on our roads.”
To provide space on narrow roads, motorists are allowed to cross or straddle the centre lines, provided the driver has a clear view of any approaching traffic and that it is safe to do so. If it is not safe to pass, drivers must wait behind the cyclist.
Do you know how to safely overtake a cyclist?Be patient and leave at least 1 metre distance when passing at 60km/h or less or 1.5 meters for speeds over 60km/h. Remember if you’re unsure, leave more!To learn more about your responsibilities on the road visit: goo.gl/VTSUqN#ShareTheRoad #UnsureLeaveMore
Posted by ACT Policing on Thursday, 23 August 2018
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There are the laws of the road, and then there are the laws of physics.
Only a fool voluntarily puts themselves in harms way knowing the risks, and then complains about the outcome.
Rationally, then we should ban all motorised vehicles from the roads, since they account for unacceptably high mortality in Australia. Since 1987 at least 21,800 drivers, 11,876 passengers, 7,665 pedestrians, and 5,891 motorcyclists have been killed on the roads. Wholly foolish to ignore the laws of physics involved in motorised vehicle accidents and collisions. (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-25/every-road-death-in-australia-since-1989/9353794?nw=0)
I hope the police pushbike riders will have audible bells on their bikes and rear vision mirrors. They also should have identifiable number plates because they are on the road. It is the law that all vehicles have number plates. As pushbikes are classed as vehicles they should have numberplates also. They cannot be both a vehicle and a protected , unidentifiable species. Before self-government there were no bike paths on the road and we were a safer and happier community.
And more importantly, both third party and comprehensive insurance cover.
Actually, that’s not correct.
Vehicles include bicycles, animal driven vehicles (ie such as horse and carriage), a ridden animal and motorised wheelchair.
None of these vehicles are required to have number plates.
To everyone demanding that cyclists pay rego:
1. Your rego doesn’t pay for roads, your taxes do
2. The majority of cyclists own a car, so they do pay rego. The difference is that they’re not clogging up the roads and air by driving.
To be specific, the fuel excise pays for the roads, in which case if you’re not driving a vehicle that runs on petroleum then you aren’t paying for the roads. If your car or truck is at home in the garage then you aren’t paying for the roads.
The hate towards bike riders is ridiculous. I ride a bike to work. I also own a car. I pay taxes. I ride for exercise and to keep at least one car off the road and bc parking fees in Canberra are expensive. I have also had very little problem with car drivers. They have for the most part been very courteous. Let’s just get along people!
That “car at home” argument makes me laugh every time it gets trotted out.
I could say the same about my motorcycle, but I still need to register and CTP insure it.
Great use of resources. NOT
Only in the ACT. Wow. Surely police have better things to do.
you mean cyclists not giving motorist enough room....
Cyclists using the road should not be discriminated against, just the same as all other road users, cyclists should pay approx. $900 per annum to be registered to travel on our public roads (paid for by vehicle registrations)..
Except that your premise is wrong. Rego doesn't pay for roads, rates and taxes do.
Noted. but registration for all forms of vehicles using roads is still required, cyclists “vehicles” too.. fees paid (vehicle inspection/roadworthy, TAC, other applicable), rego plates attached, able to be picked up by traffic cameras at intersections, identifiable to other road users, etc. and ensuring safe/correct “vehicle” condition (roadworthy condition, visibility to other road users, signalling/lights for night travelling)..
Milan Vukoja it’s been considered and rejected by governments across Australia and around the world as being an unworkable, expensive non-solution to a trivial problem. If you want to know why, read the 2013 report of the Queensland Parliamentary Transport Committee.
Cops.. hard up for cash..
Here come the hippies, you vote the greens into "power" . Accept the results.
getting paid to roam around in a bicycle and getting all the health benefits at the cost of ratepayers. living the dream!
I hope the police are going to do the same thing on bike paths with people walking because cyclists don’t slow down it’s happened to me quite a lot
Les Eite Why are you walking on bike paths?
Bill Mulger because I can
Then don't bitch about it
Wow, taxpayer dollars being utilised to the Nth degree...... 😂
Just another thought. I wonder how the policeman will measure the distance? If it is an estimate, will that hold up in court?
David Brown video evidence is compelling. All they have to prove is that you didn’t provide the mandatory minimum distance. They don’t have to prove exactly what distance you left.
It’s easy to tell the difference between 50 cms and 150 cms.
Paul Casimir I have been a photographer for more than 50 years. Among other things that I have learnt is that the focal length of the lens greatly influences the apparent proximity of the object in view.
David Brown two objects next to each other ie at the same distance from the lens - the error will be trivial. You can get a sense of the distance by reference to fixed dimensions eg the diameter of the car's wheel, or by looking at whether the car crosses the lane (and, if so, by how much).
As I said, it's not hard to spot people who grossly infringe the law. I doubt that anything marginal would be prosecuted. Certainly it's been my experience dealing with the AFP that they will only prosecute when the video evidence is undeniable.
Apart from video evidence there's also an ultrasound based system that will provide a number
Paul Casimir Using the expression “sense of” goes back to my comment. Will an estimate stand up in court? I don’t know. I imagine you don’t either. Time will tell.
David Brown I do know, because it has happened already. People have already been convicted in court based on video evidence.
As I said, there may be some doubt when it's a matter of a few centimeters, but many cases are absolutely unarguable.
I hope he can peddle really quickly so he can issue me an infringement.
David Brown he will most likely have front and rear cycliq bike cameras. No need to chase you down they will just send you the infringement notice.
Well done for admitting intent
Love it!!
I look forward to seeing ACT policing members out on their bikes. If they’d like to pick up their quota of fines quickly, they can just pedal up and down Northbourne ave in peak hour where the truck drivers often pass way too close. Also ride along any action bus route, the bus drivers appear to have all been terribly lied to by their boyfriends about what 1metre actually looks like.
Looking at the comments on here, what a load of nasty, angry people, I miss the days when your average Australian was chilled, they increasingly seem like uptight, whingers and busybodys.
I agree, but I’m pretty sure that was before lycra became a thing.
Back when governments and bike riders had common sense rather than belligerent entitlement.
I don't mind this, but it has to work both ways, not simply "cars are bad mkay"
No I did
Question thou
First person to ark up
Do u ride bikes
Blake Rose ever cut one off they are some deadly tights coming at you
I’ve actually cleaned one up at round about on Ginny drive😂😂😂
Is that all they have to worry about? That and mean tweets, blimey!
Angela Thomas having been deliberately run off the road recently on my ride to work, this is something I worry about .
Stuart Brogan you didnt use a cycle path?
Cars have to keep a 1 metre gap from the bike. Bikes also need to keep that same gap and not encroach on the traffic forcing cars to move away even more.
Alex Elliott Very wrong buddy. Bicycles are entitled to take whatever space in the lane they require to feel safe (unless there is a separate bike lane). So if we want to take the lane we will. And you will have give us the lawful distance when passing. Time to read & understand the road rules again for you little man.