Call to protect cyclists with one metre passing distance

Sussex cyclists are being asked to sign a petition calling for greater protection on the roads.
Call to protect cyclistsCall to protect cyclists
Call to protect cyclists

Set up by Tony Martin on the Government’s website, the petition calls for a legal minimum distance between drivers and cyclists when overtaking.

The petition has attracted more than 16,000 signatures nationwide of the 100,000 it will need to trigger a debate in Parliament. It will run until October 24.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The call is for drivers to leave one metre between car and cyclists on roads with speed limits up to 30mph. On roads with higher speed limits the petition says the minimum passing distance should be 1.5 metres.

Currently the wording of the Highway Code’s advice is to give ‘plenty of room’.

However, the UK’s death rate for cyclists is far higher than other countries - measured as deaths rate per billion kilometres cycled, the UK has a rating of 22.4, around double that of Norway (11), Denmark (12.1) and the Netherlands (12.4).

The Government has issued the following response to the petition: “This Government currently does not have plans to legislate on a set minimum space (e.g. 1 metre) on roads with a speed limit of up to 30mph when overtaking a cyclist.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“This type of legislation would be extremely difficult to enforce and the Government does not believe that it would add to the existing rules and guidance, including those set out in the Highway Code, which advises drivers to give cyclists ‘at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car’.

“We are keeping this position under review, and are interested in learning from the experience of places where legislation of this type has been introduced.”

View the petition here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/128190 https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/128190

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.