This petition is calling on the House of Representatives to amend the Land Transport Act 1998 to provide for a new rule requiring motorists to give vulnerable road users a passing distance of at least 1.5 metre on roads where the speed limit exceeds 60km and at least 1 metre where the speed limit is less than 60 km.

Further to this an additional penalty of imprisonment or substantial fine if a breach of rule involves injury or death.

One dead or maimed pedestrian/cyclist is one too many and it is time for the government to act.  A vulnerable road user is defined as

(a) a pedestrian using a road and

(B) a person using a road on a

(I) a cycle or

(ii) a mobility device or

(iii) a moped or

(iv) a motorcycle or

(i) a pedestrian controlled vehicle and

(C) a person using a road on

(i) an animal or

(ii) an animal drawn vehicle and

(D) a person leading an animal on foot.

New Zealanders are turning to their cars more and more as their perception of using any other form of transport has been tarnished by the abuse of motorists and the apparent disinterest of the NZ Police to take this seriously.  We want to share the roads and promote other forms of transport as safe and viable and for that to happen we need this amendment.