The best way for drivers to become more considerate towards commuting cyclists would be for them to swap places for a week. But since nobody’s too eager to give up on the comfort of their cars, different solutions are required.
The police department in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has come up with a very good plan. A relatively small device fitted on the handlebar on a police officer’s bike registers the distance between the cars passing by and the left extremity of the bicycle. If the measured distance exceeds the minimum legal distance, then the officer can pedal on until the next car catches up with him.
But when a driver gets within more than 36 inches (91 cm) from the bike, a buzzer on the device goes off to warn the officer. At the same time, a GoPro camera records everything so that there’s plenty of proof when the reckless driver gets pulled over.
The Chattanooga police department has made it clear that it is not their intention to punish the drivers, but to educate them. That’s precisely why all drivers who get pulled over are only advised to be more careful in the future. However, if they fail to do so and are registered again with the same offense, they risk a day in court and a fine.
The state law in Tennessee states that cars should pass cyclists at a minimum distance of 36 inches, while larger trucks need to give a larger clearance of 72 inches (183 cm) because of the much greater shock wave they create that could knock bicycle riders down.
Of course, drivers could argue that while the cycling officer has this very accurate device (its reads are precise up to one inch), they have to rely on visual measurements and, more often than not, common sense. We’re guessing that’s exactly the message the police officers are trying to convey: they’re not there for half-inches, but for those situations when the cyclist’s safety is clearly put at risk.
There are 23 other US states that share the same legislation regarding the driver/cyclist interaction, but it’s not the same all over the world. Some countries have an even greater buffer zone for those on two wheels, while others lack specifics altogether. But this new measuring device could be the perfect tool to launch a new era for cycling safety. Here’s to that!
"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie) Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News