Image: Sean Rowe
Cyclists and drivers often have an uneasy relationship on the road. Minimum passing distances have gone a long way to improving cyclist safety and raise awareness amongst drivers.
Now the Queensland Government wants to apply technology to enforce the minimum passing distance between cyclists and motorists.
Queensland Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports Mark Bailey said the Government was seeking technology to help better understand compliance with the road rules.
“We want to identify available devices that can measure the passing distance between cyclists and motorists to help keep people safe while sharing the road,” Mr Bailey said.
“We are also seeking input into the collection of video evidence and its usefulness in enforcement. We are working with Queensland Police to investigate trial technology to help with accuracy in assessing passing distances,” he said.
The tender was released in response to recommendations of an independent report from the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q) which evaluated the 1-metre passing rule that was set by the Queensland Government after a two-year trial and recommended additional measures to address assist with implementation.
In Queensland, one metre of distance is required when passing at 60km/h or less and a metre and a half over 60km/h. It also found that nearly half (43.1 per cent) of drivers agreed they were more aware of bicycle riders than they were 12 months prior.
According to Mr Bailey, the report found the rule has been very effective in improving motorists’ awareness of bicycle riders.
A department spokesperson told GovNews, “We are seeking contractor assistance to investigate, trial and report on devices which can measure and record the lateral passing distance between bicycles and motorised vehicles.
“A public tender was released on the QTender website on 22 September and closes on 10 October,” the spokesperson said.
Mr Bailey said since the Queensland trial and adoption of the rule, the ACT, NSW and SA have announced similar road rules and VIC which are being considered.
“The passing distance is measured from the right-most part of the bicycle or the cyclist and the left-most part of the vehicle or something sticking out from the vehicle, such as a side mirror,” he said.
“To help educate road users of the changes, our Stay Wider of the Rider campaign was run again earlier this year, including the ability for motorists to cross centre lines when overtaking cyclists.”
The Queensland road rules allow drives to cross road lines to pass a bicycle rider – as long as it is safe to do so. Drivers can drive over centre lines (including double unbroken centre lines) on a 2-way road; straddle or cross a lane line (including a continuous lane line) on a multi-lane road; and drive on a painted island. However, if it is not safe to pass a bicycle rider, drivers must wait until it is safe to pass.
The Stay Wider of the Rider campaign is part of the Queensland Government’s broader road safety program “Join the Drive” and includes easy to understand information including videos to benefit all road users.
The tender specifies requirements for contractor assistance to:
- Investigate, trial and report on devices that measure and record the lateral passing distance between bicycles and motorised vehicles.
- Investigate and report on the issues surrounding the collection and use of video evidence related to the lateral passing distance between bicycles and motorised vehicles.
