From 25 February new road rules will be introduced on Tasmanian roads to increase the safety of cyclists.
When passing or overtaking a cyclist, a driver will be able to straddle or cross a continuous centre line in order to leave a safe space between their vehicle and the cyclist, when it is safe to do so.
This means to pass a cyclist safely, a driver can cross:
- a single continuous line;
- a single continuous line with a broken line on the left or right, or;
- double continuous lines.
It is recommended that a driver should leave at least one metre clearance between their vehicle and the cyclist on roads up to and including 60 km/h and 1.5 metres on roads above 60 km/h.
To support these changes, new yellow warning signs with the message “pass cyclists safely” will be rolled out along popular cycling routes throughout February and March.
To assist drivers and cyclists to understand the changes, we have developed a web page with a digital clip, depicting how and when to apply the rules, together with common questions and answers.
For more information visit: http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/centrelines
Hobart Bike Kitchen 