Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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317. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if motorists can be penalised for overtaking a cyclist and allowing a passing distance of 1.5 metres on a continuous white line as a motorist may not overtake on a continuous white line under present road safety rules. [50685/19]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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The purpose of the dangerous overtaking of a cyclist regulation commenced by my Department in November is to target drivers who put the safety of cyclists at risk. I must emphasise to the Deputy that a passing distance of 1.5 metres is recommended as a guideline to assist drivers in allowing cyclists adequate space but is not formally enshrined in law. This new regulation will be enforced on the basis of endangering cyclists and not on the basis of breaching a specified distance.

It is incumbent upon every driver to take safe and informed decisions based on the road conditions immediately facing them and the act of overtaking of a cyclist in no way exempts a driver from the requirement to stay within a continuous white line.