Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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43. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the Staying Alive at 1.5 initiative aimed at protecting cyclists and other vulnerable roads users; his legislative plans regarding minimum overtaking distances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30207/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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There has been a worrying increase in deaths among cyclists during 2017, which is particularly concerning as overall road deaths are down on last year.   

Ensuring greater safety for cyclists, and other road users, requires measures across a wide range of areas, and the Road Safety Authority, An Garda Síochána and others are continuing to pursue a variety of initiatives under the Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020.

I am well aware of the 'Stayin' Alive at 1.5' initiative, and I share its goal of ensuring cycle safety.  However, I am also aware that An Garda Síochána have repeatedly stated that the introduction of a mandatory passing distance would not be enforceable.  I know that a number of other countries do have mandatory passing distances, but it is important to recognise that these jurisdictions have very different legal and constitutional contexts.

Aside from the challenge of enforcement, including demonstrating to the satisfaction of a court that distance measurements are accurate, there are practical challenges with a mandatory passing distance.  For example, if a motorist and a cyclist were less than 1.5 metres apart and it was the cyclist who had moved into that position, would the motorist be committing an offence?  Given that we have many narrow roads, would a mandatory passing distance force drivers to move dangerously far to the other side of the road?

It is not clear that such a law would be practicable.  It is arguably more effective to educate both drivers and cyclists about safe behaviour on our roads.  In that regard I welcome the current campaign by the Road Safety Authority advising motorists to use 1.5m outside 50 km/hour zones, and 1m inside them.  I intend to work with the RSA to further highlight this message, so that this rule of thumb will be followed where practicable and safe rather than turning breaches of it into a criminal offence.