Cambridgeshire drivers urged to give more space in campaign
It comes after a change in the law
A campaign to improve safety for all road users in Cambridgeshire has been launched.
Temporary signs are being put up across the county to raise awareness with drivers around a change in the amount of space they should give to others including cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians.
A change in the Highway Code - made in 2022 - means motorists must leave at 1.5 metres between their vehicles and people on bikes when driving at 30mph, with more space at higher speeds.
For pedestrians, the gap is at least two metres while for horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles, drivers are told to slow down to under 10mph.
The rule also means drivers should give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as when overtaking a car.
'The data is clear'
"The data is clear: safety is the single biggest thing stopping more people from getting on a bike," Councillor Alex Beckett, chair of the highways and transport committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said.
"Too many of us have experienced a vehicle passing too close, and that moment of fear matters.
“This campaign is a simple ask of those of us who drive: leave a bit more space.
"It costs nothing and could make the difference between someone feeling safe on their bike or giving up on cycling altogether."
Temporary signs will be installed on lampposts on roads throughout the county until the end of 2027.