One-metre rule: Proposed new WA cycling law doomed as Liberals indicate they will not back it

Updated

A proposed law to force West Australian drivers to leave at least a one-metre gap when overtaking cyclists appears doomed after Liberal MPs indicated they will not support it.

The Greens and cycling groups have been pushing the move after a string of incidents, including the deaths of seven cyclists on WA roads this year.

The legislation, introduced to Parliament earlier this year by Green MP Lynn MacLaren, was debated for the first time in the Upper House today.

But Ms MacLaren conceded that without the support of Liberal MPs the legislation was unlikely to be passed.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder said the Liberals would not support the proposed law because it would be hard to enforce.

He said the Government would continue to work on alternative ways to improve safety for cyclists.

This included changes to driver tests, which would increase awareness of the need to keep cars a safe distance from cyclists.

"We feel that this one is difficult to enforce if we set an explicit 100 centimetre rule, so therefore as a bill we don't support it, even though we support the intent of making sure that our cyclists are safe," he said.

"If it's not enforceable then don't create legislation around that.

"We believe that there is already enough power within the current rules and laws around safety on the roads and ensuring safe passing of vehicles."

Mr Nalder said about 400, 000 people cycled each week in and around Perth and that number continued to grow rapidly.

The Greens proposed law would require drivers to leave a minimum distance when overtaking cyclists of one metre on roads with speed limits of up to 60 kilometres an hour and 1.5 metres on other roads.

Similar laws are already being trialled in Queensland and the ACT, and are in force in other places around the world.

Cycling group will continue to fight for law change

A peak WA cycling group has vowed to continue their fight for the law all the way to the next state election in March 2017.

Westcycle CEO Clint Shaw said the cycling community had been calling for a law to impose minimum distances for a long time.

"This year we are seeing a trend, it looks like it’s going to be the worst year on record for cycling fatalities... it's definitely spiking and the trend is continuing so we need to do something about it," Mr Shaw said.

"I'd encourage the Liberal Party to look to their counterparts in Queensland and the ACT where both sides of Parliament have come together and made a decision to trial the law."

In the 10 years to 2013, 33 cyclists were killed on WA roads and a further 1,097 were seriously injured. More than 80 per cent of them were male.

The Liberals reject this at their peril. The cycling community is overwhelmingly in support of this and the cycling community is from the full spectrum of political support. Lynne MacLaren

Ms MacLaren said she would continue to lobby Liberal MPs to change their mind and support the proposed law, which is yet to be voted on in State Parliament.

"The Liberals reject this at their peril," she said.

"The cycling community is overwhelmingly in support of this and the cycling community is from the full spectrum of political support.

"I do believe the tide has turned and they (the Liberals) have totally misread it.

"None of the arguments that the Minister put up today will hold up.... they seem to have put up a position that’s completely irrational."

The Opposition indicated in Parliament that it would support a second reading of the bill.

But outside Parliament Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said while he liked the idea, Labor MPs were yet to commit to supporting the proposed law.

"Other states have trialled it and I certainly think in the West Australian context, trialling it would be a great idea," he said.

"As to whether or not we'd actually vote for the bill, I'd have to talk to my colleagues."

Last month, the WA Government launched a $300,000 road safety campaign encouraging motorists and cyclist to "share the road".

Topics: state-parliament, cycling, road, wa

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