{"id":30902,"date":"2017-10-23T12:00:34","date_gmt":"2017-10-23T19:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/vancouver\/?p=30902"},"modified":"2017-10-22T21:44:23","modified_gmt":"2017-10-23T04:44:23","slug":"release-outdated-act-needs-many-reforms-including-safe-passing-law-say-advocates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/vancouver\/2017\/10\/23\/release-outdated-act-needs-many-reforms-including-safe-passing-law-say-advocates\/","title":{"rendered":"Release: Outdated Act Needs Many Reforms Including Safe Passing Law, say Advocates"},"content":{"rendered":"

Local cycling charitable organization HUB Cycling is calling on the Provincial Government to commit to modernizing the BC Motor Vehicle Act in order to improve road safety for vulnerable road users.<\/p>\n

\u201cModernizing our Motor Vehicle Act will help BC reach the targets of the Provincial Government\u2019s Road Safety Strategy and Vision Zero,\u201d says David Hay Q.C., Chair of the Road Safety Law Reform Group. \u201cIt will also reduce collisions, injuries and death and help control ICBC premiums.\u201d<\/p>\n

HUB Cycling is part of the Road Safety Law Reform Group, a consortium that includes the BC Trial Lawyers Association, the BC Cycling Coalition and public health researchers, representing over 50,000 members. The Group has submitted a list of recommendations<\/a> for reforming the Act, including the need for a minimum passing distance, lower default residential speed limits and increased fines for dangerous behaviours – like dooring.<\/p>\n

Updated legislation, reframed as the Road Safety Act, would protect all road users, including our most vulnerable: those walking and cycling. By reducing the potential for collisions, it would also benefit all road users including motorists by helping to keep ICBC premiums low. BC currently has no minimum passing distance for passing a person on a bike. Both Ontario and New Brunswick have recently introduced a safe passing law. BC’s law, however, is silent on minimum passing distances.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recommend a Safe Passing Law that would require a motor vehicle to pass a vulnerable road user (a person cycling, walking or using a wheelchair) by at least 1.5 metres\u201d, says Kim Konnert, HUB Cycling\u2019s Director of Communications.<\/p>\n

Cycling and walking are popular activities enjoyed by the majority of people in British Columbia. Much needs to be done to #ungapthemap<\/a> and create walking and cycling networks that connect our communities. This work will take a number of years but we can act now to improve safety: changes like a Safer Passing Law would immediately improve safety and make cycling and walking more comfortable for everyone in BC.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Motor Vehicle Act has not been substantially updated for more than 50 years\u201d, says Kim Konnert, HUB Cycling\u2019s Director of Communications. \u201cIn that time, much has changed on our roads, including the presence (and desire for) more active transportation users, larger vehicles, new technology and infrastructure and higher traffic volumes.\u201d.<\/p>\n

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