Minimum passing distance law petition

Tim · Post by **Tim** » 13 May 2016 23:38

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/128190

Thoughts on this people? Following the outcome of the trials in Australia for such a law which seem to have reduced fatalities and serious injuries I'm in favour of this. No-one (myself included) reads or knows the highway code and the police, cps and magistrates aren't currently protecting cyclists effectively so a change in law might help. Also in favour of it because the drivers of Birmingham think 1.5inches is an OK passing distance so a law may educate and change the behaviour of the sensible but ignorant ones! Chances of a law change is probably nil under this government but 100k signatures would raise awareness at least.

Post by **CakeStop** » 14 May 2016 10:01

I'm not entirely comfortable with this because I find out in the countryside most drivers give me more than 1.5m especially when on a fast road. I wouldn't want legislation to imply that they don't need to give me quite so much space.

petemarshall · Post by **petemarshall** » 14 May 2016 18:38

Presently the Highway Code is clear that you give the same space to cyclists as any other vehicle and you pass at a safe distance, that some fail to do this isn't going to change because a specific distance is enshrined in law and as Steve points out, may have the opposited effect on fast roads.
I see no value in this constant desire to create more and more legislation which is not enforced.
Would it not be better for all these cycle campaigners to concentrate on one piece of legislation that can be clearly shown by example throughout most of Europe to actually change drivers attitude and costs nothing to enforce,being civil rather than criminal? That is placing strict liability on powered vehicles or the number of wheels for any damages caused.
Hit people in the pocket.

Tim · Post by **Tim** » 14 May 2016 19:40

It's minimum passing distance so wouldn't see why people would reduce what space they give.

Agree the liability law would be the one key thing but believe the campaigners campaign for that too.

I'd say every commute and every group ride I do someone passes dangerously close.

I last read the highway code in 1998. No-one knows what's in it.

Post by **CakeStop** » 14 May 2016 20:08

The inability of some people to correctly interpret "no more than two abreast" doesn't fill me with confidence that they would do any better with "minimum".

petemarshall · Post by **petemarshall** » 15 May 2016 07:06

Tim wrote:
I last read the highway code in 1998. No-one knows what's in it.

You will make a fine cycle campaigner then Tim.

Tim · Post by **Tim** » 15 May 2016 08:27

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=you ... -9dP6ViNNY