comment, opinion

HOW would you feel if you killed somebody? Killed, not in a deliberate act of murder, but accidentally through momentary distraction. Distraction behind the wheel of a car for just a few seconds can dramatically alter many lives when it results in death. It not only destroys the life of the person killed but the lives of friends, family and, ultimately, the driver. It is the driver who must carry the lifelong guilt; that their actions caused a life to end and others immeasurable pain. It is only when a road tragedy occurs on the road that people momentarily reflect on their own behaviour and consider fellow road users. Then, on the second or third drive, it is back to normal. People write text messages while driving; they skip through CDs; they behave impatiently behind the wheel. Motor accidents, in general, cost the community severely. In financial terms, the federal Infrastructure Department estimates that road crashes cost $27 billion a year. The social impacts are unquantifiable. Without a doubt, cyclists are our most vulnerable road users. Last year, four cyclists were killed on Tasmanian roads while just one was killed the year before. Meanwhile, figures of drivers and passengers killed on the road over 2012 and 2013 remained the same, and pedestrians killed on the road dropped between the two years. An average of 35 cyclists are killed and 2500 are seriously injured on Australian roads roads each year. With their vulnerability in mind, I cannot understand why our most vulnerable road users are treated with absolute disdain and frequently receive unwarranted aggression. Cyclists have told me that they realise when they leave their family and their home to go on a ride that they may not return in one piece. I have witnessed cars on too many occasions travelling far too close to cyclists while they are within their designated lane and witnessed verbal abuse from drivers. I have heard stories of cyclists being intimidated, sideswiped, and experiences of car doors being opened into them. I have read too often of life- altering injuries and death. Cyclists are pushing for cultural change on the roads, which they hope will start from instigating a legislatively requirement of one- metre clearance rule between them and fellow motorists. It sounds fair. Cars don't travel bumper-to- bumper on the road and usually travel safely with at least two metres on suburban streets. Cyclists are simply asking for a metre gap around them. Not only do cyclists need space and patience from drivers, more needs to be done for learner drivers to understand the rights of cyclists so this anti-cyclist behaviour is eradicated. Cyclists are overdue for respect from fellow road users. They are overdue for consideration and care. More than four million Australians regularly ride a bike and more than 7.3 million bikes have been sold between 2007 and 2011. The activity is now widely seen as a great way to get around a city like Launceston, as well as to help deliver health and environmental benefits. Pro-cyclist destinations reap lucrative tourism benefits, and Tasmania is well-placed to benefit too. But behavioural change is needed first to reduce the hurt on our roads.

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