Shane Ross: Proposed safe cycle passing law is ‘basically unenforceable’

Proposed legislation to penalise drivers who pass cyclists too closely is “basically unenforceable”, Transport Minister Shane Ross has said.

The Road Traffic (Minimum Passing Distance of Cyclists) Bill 2017 was introduced as a private member’s bill by Ciarán Cannon last February.

Under the bill, motorists would be obliged to pass cyclists no closer than one-and-a-half metres on roads with a speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour or higher. The passing distance would be set at one metre on roads with a lower speed limit.

Motorists who break the law would face an €80 fine and three penalty points, or up to €1,500 and five penalty points in the courts.

Broadly similar legislation has been introduced in France, Belgium, Portugal, Canada, Australia and parts of the US.

However, Mr Ross told The Irish Times that he is sceptical that the bill, currently being examined by the Department of Transport, could be reliably enforced in Ireland.

Mr Ross said: “It was tried in Australia and elsewhere. The problem is proof, the problem is enforcement. I do not want to introduce a measure that is basically unenforceable. How do you prove someone is one-and-a-half metres away? That is very hard to prove.”