New laws to be introduced in New South Wales in March will require all cyclists over 18 to carry ID, and fines for certain offences for cyclists are set to quadruple.
The new laws were announced by the state’s roads minister Duncan Gay and are part of NSW’s ‘Go Together’ safety campaign. Other laws introduced include the requirement for drivers to provide at least a 1m gap when overtaking cyclists..
On average, 11 cyclists are killed and 1500 seriously injured in NSW each year.
The new laws are as follows:
Drivers must give bicycle riders at least a metre of space – From 1 March 2016, drivers who pass a bicycle rider must allow a distance of at least:
• 1 metre when the speed limit is 60km/h or less
• 1.5 metres when the speed limit is more than 60km/h
If drivers cannot pass a bicycle rider safely, they should slow down and wait until it is safe to pass the rider, leaving the minimum distance. To help drivers provide the minimum distance, some exemptions to the road rules will apply.
As long as a driver has a clear view of any approaching traffic and it is safe to pass the bicycle rider, the driver will be exempt from the following road rules:
• Keep to the left of the centre of the road (two-way road with no dividing line)
• Keep to the left of the centre of a dividing line – broken and unbroken lines
• Keep off a dividing strip
• Keep off a painted island
• Driving within a single marked lane or line of traffic
• Moving from one marked lane to another across a continuous line separating the lanes
Driving penalty – Drivers caught not allowing the minimum distance when passing a bicycle rider face a $319 fine and a penalty of two demerit points.
Bicycle riders over 18 must carry photo ID – From 1 March 2016, all bicycle riders aged 18 and over must carry photo identification.
Increased penalties – Like drivers, the majority of bicycle riders have safety in mind most of the time. The new penalties will only apply to riders who engage in dangerous behaviour or break the law.
Fines for five offences will increase so that bicycle riders receive the same fines as motorists for high risk behaviour. Increased penalties will apply to bicycle riders who are caught:
• Not wearing a helmet (up from $71 to $319)
• Running a red light (up from $71 to $425)
• Riding dangerously (up from $71 to $425)
• Holding on to a moving vehicle (up from $71 to $319)
• Not stopping at children’s/pedestrian crossings (up $71 to $425)
Penalties for other bicycle rider offences will also increase from $71 to $106, including the offence of riding at night without lights.
Bicycle riders should provide pedestrians with a metre of space on shared paths
Bicycle riders are also encouraged to allow pedestrians a metre of space on shared paths, where possible.
Some of that wouldn’t go amiss in UK
How would this work with children?
Children under 16 should have ID with their address and parents names, and penalties fees halved l!
I’m sure the politician sold his money making scheme as an added safety measure for cyclists. You need to be really stupid to not see this is just a way for politicians to get more of your money. Why else would they raise fins so much?