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Cyclists and Motor Vehicles

Tamyka Caputo
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15 October 2019

The ongoing debate between cyclists and motor vehicle drivers...

With the ever growing cyclist community in Mackay, it is important that cyclists and drivers are aware of the relationship between the two when sharing the road.

Rights and Responsibilities

Bicycles are a type of vehicle and as such, cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as a driver when using the road.

As a driver, did you know that you must stay wider of cyclists by giving a minimum of 1 metre when passing a cyclist in a 60km/h or less zone, and 1.5 metres where the speed is more than 60km/h.

As a cyclist, when riding two abreast, you cannot be more than 1.5 metres apart.  You can only ride with more than two cyclists side by side when overtaking.

What if I am involved in an accident?

If you are involved in an accident you should safely get yourself and your bike off the road (if you are able to do so).  Similar to car accidents, it is important that you exchange details with the driver of the car.

What if I am injured?

If you are injured while cycling as a result of negligence by a motor vehicle driver, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation against the driver's CTP insurer.

The onus is on the cyclist to prove negligence on the part of the driver.  In addition to failing to comply with the usual road rules, the court also considers things like how defensively the driver drove, the speed at which they were driving and also the capacity of the driver to take evasive action.

Common traffic accidents involving cyclists are often because the driver failed to see a cyclist.  Slow down, check your blind spots and give way where you are required to.

You can read the Queensland Government's 'Sharing the road with bicycle riders' for more information and frequently asked questions.

Please do not hesitate to contact our office on 07 4963 2000 or via our online contact form should you have any queries regarding your rights.