Factors influencing noncompliance with bicycle passing distance laws

Many jurisdictions around the world have implemented laws to require a minimum distance when motor vehicles pass cyclists, but research into the factors influencing passing distances has produced inconsistent results, indicating the need for future research. This study examined the factors influencing motorists’ compliance with a legislated bicycle passing distance rule in Queensland, Australia. Unlike the earlier studies, which used volunteer riders to record passing events, this study used a naturalistic study design to record passing events where none of the motorists or the cyclists were aware of being studied. As a result, this study captured the ‘true’ driving and riding behaviours during passing events. The likelihood of non-compliance was greater on higher (70–80?km/h speed limits) and lower (40?km/h) speed roads than 60?km/h roads, at curved road sections, and on roads with narrower traffic lanes. Rider characteristics (age, gender, helmet status, type of clothing, type of bicycle, and individual or group riding) had no statistically significant association with compliance status. The findings indicate that efforts to improve cyclist safety during overtaking events should focus on non-rider related factors, such as roadway infrastructure characteristics.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2018.03.016
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457518301209
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Debnath, Ashim Kumar
  • Haworth, Narelle
  • Schramm, Amy
  • Heesch, Kristiann C
  • Somoray, Klaire
• Publication Date: 2018-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 137-142
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 115
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic data collection systems; Bicycling; Compliance; Distance; Laws; Passing; Traffic safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bicycle safety
• Geographic Terms: Queensland
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01670446
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 29 2018 10:24AM