A 40-year-old man from Launceston has been disqualified from driving for two months and given a fine of $2,000 after pleading guilty to reckless driving and failing to maintain a safe distance when passing a bicycle rider.

The incident in August last year involved three cyclists, a 16-year-old and two adults, who were riding east on a straight piece of Pateena Road, Longford commonly known as the ‘Flying Mile’.

At the time traffic was light and there was sufficient space for the small group to be overtaken safely.

The driver overtook the cyclists at about 80 to 90 km/h and failed to pass them at the minimum distance of 1.5 metres. He sounded his horn as he approached and was estimated to be just 30-40cm to the right of them as he overtook.
Fortunately, no one was injured.