THE STATE government will not move to legislate on the one-metre rule for passing cyclists, following recommendations from the Road Safety Advisory Council. Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding told a Budget Estimates hearing yesterday that Tasmania would continue to monitor the trial in Queensland. The one-metre rule would make it an offence for motorists to pass cyclists closer than one metre on roads under 60kmh or closer than 1.5 metres on roads more than 60kmh. There have been nine cyclist fatalities in the last five years, an increase on the previous five. The announcement comes as a Southern Tasmanian man was yesterday sentenced to a suspended jail term for striking a cyclist and killing him. Michael Lee McCulloch, 50, was found guilty of causing death by negligent driving. McCulloch said he did not see the cyclist. Mr Hidding told the committee new cycling warning signs would be installed on popular cycling routes across the state, including the West Tamar Highway, with $100,000 in funding from the Road Safety Levy. He said the government took the ‘‘metre matters’’ policy to the election, but didn’t commit to implementing it. ‘‘We thought that was bad policy on the run,’’ Mr Hidding said. The policy was referred to the RSAC, which has since visited Queensland to look at the policy in operation there. The government accepted recommendations ‘‘not to implement a minimum passing rule in Tasmania at this time’’. Mr Hidding said measuring the distance was an issue in Queensland. ‘‘Great to have the rule, but can you prosecute on it?’’ Mr Hidding said. Mr Hidding said road rules could be reviewed and amended to accommodate the passing of cyclists, such as crossing double white lines where safe to do so. He also announced new road safety markers that alert motorists to dangerous icy conditions would be trialled in the state’s south.
THE STATE government will not move to legislate on the one-metre rule for passing cyclists, following recommendations from the Road Safety Advisory Council.
Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding told a Budget Estimates hearing yesterday that Tasmania would continue to monitor the trial in Queensland.
The one-metre rule would make it an offence for motorists to pass cyclists closer than one metre on roads under 60kmh or closer than 1.5 metres on roads more than 60kmh.
There have been nine cyclist fatalities in the last five years, an increase on the previous five.
The announcement comes as a Southern Tasmanian man was yesterday sentenced to a suspended jail term for striking a cyclist and killing him.
Michael Lee McCulloch, 50, was found guilty of causing death by negligent driving.
McCulloch said he did not see the cyclist.
Mr Hidding told the committee new cycling warning signs would be installed on popular cycling routes across the state, including the West Tamar Highway, with $100,000 in funding from the Road Safety Levy.
He said the government took the ‘‘metre matters’’ policy to the election, but didn’t commit to implementing it.
‘‘We thought that was bad policy on the run,’’ Mr Hidding said.
The policy was referred to the RSAC, which has since visited Queensland to look at the policy in operation there.
The government accepted recommendations ‘‘not to implement a minimum passing rule in Tasmania at this time’’.
Mr Hidding said measuring the distance was an issue in Queensland.
‘‘Great to have the rule, but can you prosecute on it?’’ Mr Hidding said.
Mr Hidding said road rules could be reviewed and amended to accommodate the passing of cyclists, such as crossing double white lines where safe to do so.
He also announced new road safety markers that alert motorists to dangerous icy conditions would be trialled in the state’s south.
