[Greens-Media] Greens urge support for increased cyclist safety following another saddening fatality

[Walker, Nadine]

Greens urge support for increased cyclist safety following another saddening fatality
Media statement, Monday 13 October 2014

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren has today urged the State Government to support her Bill to protect cyclists after another fatality on the weekend showed more drastic action must be taken to protect vulnerable road-users. 

"My sincere condolences go out to the friends and family of Brynt McSwain, another cyclist who died tragically on WA roads.

"In response to the Amy Gillett Foundation's national campaign for safe distances, my Road Traffic (Keeping Safe Distances from Bicycles) Amendment Bill will make cycling safer. On roads where the speed limit is 60km/h or lower, drivers of vehicles should leave a one metre distance when passing a cyclist. Where the speed limit is above 60km/h, the passing distance should be 1.5 metres.

"Road Safety needs to act now to raise awareness and educate drivers on sharing roads with cyclists, who have just as much right to use the roads as anyone. In Queensland it took a fatality for the State Government to push through a metre passing trial that would ensure motor vehicle users left ample space when passing cyclists. The ACT has also (very recently) implemented a trial as part of reforms to improve safety for vulnerable road users.  

"As I've said many times, we must not wait for the death toll to rise before we improve cyclist safety."


For comment: Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC
Mobile 0403 721 951

Media liaison: Nadine Walker
Mobile 0449 189 195