Department For Transport To Make Roads Safer For Cyclists
Friday, 6. April 2018
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced a study into ways of making roads safer for cyclists. One area being looked at is the possibility of setting a minimum distance for motorists to leave when overtaking cyclists.
The Highway Code says drivers should give cyclists ‘plenty’ of space and ‘at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car’.But ministers, feeling that this was inadequate, have previously said they were interested in bringing in a mandatory minimum gap.
Robert Goodwill got the ball rolling in 2016 when he was Transport Minister. He looked at a law in South Africa that set a minimum distance when overtaking, suggesting that we should consider replicating the law in the UK. The DfT said that they are keeping the proposal under review.
Another new rule could be aimed at preventing car drivers from opening doors in the path of cyclists. In Holland drivers are taught the ‘Dutch Reach’, you can stop making up your own stories right now.
This technique is used to open doors which involves using the hand furthest away from the door to open it, essentially forcing them to look over their shoulder for passing cyclists. Around 100 cyclists die every year on UK roads and 3,000 are seriously injured.
The danger posed by other road users is believed to be a barrier to getting more people to get on their bikes. Which is something that the Government is eager to do as part of its Greener Revolution. By Graham Hill
