Cyclists are welcoming the State Government's new regulations to ensure motorists stay at least 1 metre away from cyclists on Western Australia's roads.

The legislation, which was a McGown Government election commitment, means motorists will have to keep a distance of at least 1 metre if they are driving less than 60 kilometres per hour and 1.5 metres if they are going faster.

Cyclist Mark Zoccoli thinks the new rules will help educate all road users to be mindful.

"It's a good idea to educate drivers to give you some distance, but I don't know how they are going to police it," he said.

"We just have to live together, we're all on the road — we just want to get home safe."

Roger Tomlins has been cycling for more than 15 years and thinks new regulations will improve road safety.

"It's a great idea, in fact it has been put in place in many places... the council have already put that in, they have put a line of a metre — and it makes it so safe," he said.

"The 1 metre is just common sense really, to actually legislate to make that common sense is just something we have to do sometimes."

The WA Government will trial one-metre passing rules for two years. ( Supplied: ACT Government )

Road Safety Minister Michelle Roberts agreed the new rules were "common sense" and similar to those already in place in other states.

"This is just common sense for most people but other states have already moved — Queensland, New South Wales, and Tasmania," she said.

"We want to make our roads safer for cyclists, sadly this year there have already been seven cyclists killed. It's a serious matter, this is about saving lives and preventing injury."

The minister said WA police would educate motorists and cyclists about their obligations.

"In those early stages, I expect there'd be a lot of advice being given by police to motorists who are doing the wrong thing to make them aware," she said.

Drivers who disobey the new regulations will be hit with a $400 fine and a loss of four demerit points.

As part of the new rules, drivers are also permitted to cross centre lane markings on roads, including double white lines, to ensure the appropriate passing distance, but only if it is safe to do so, and the driver has a clear view of any approaching traffic.

Cycling groups pushing for three years for laws

The minimum safe passing distance is measured from the furthest point on the left of the driver's vehicle to the furthest point to the right of the cyclist's bicycle.

WestCycle CEO Matt Fulton said the lobby group had been pushing for the introduction of minimum passing distance for more than three years.

"It's been a very long journey to get this announcement, three years of advocating, the support of numerous people and organisations ... so to say we are pleased is an understatement," he said.

Some motorists would prefer cyclists stick to separate paths and stay off the roads. ( ABC: Emma Wynne )

Former Greens MP Lynne MacLaren introduced a safe passing bill to Parliament in 2014, and said she was pleased the rules will finally be introduced.

"More people cycling benefits the entire community and this is a step in the right direction to get more people out of cars and on bikes," she said.

The new rules will be monitored and evaluated by the Road Safety Commission, with a report provided to the Road Safety Minister after two years.

Minimum safe passing laws are already operating in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania.

Earlier this year, the Road Safety Commission of WA launched an advertising campaign — Might Be A Mate — that aims to build empathy between drivers and cyclists.

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