The Minister for Transport has said he will introduce a new offence of dangerous overtaking of cyclists and there will be increased fines for drivers.
Shane Ross says he will bring in the new regulation on 12 November.
At the moment drivers who overtake cyclists dangerously can be prosecuted under the general law against dangerous overtaking and can be given a fine of €80 and three penalty points.
Under the new regulation there will be a law specific to overtaking of cyclists and the maximum fine for that will be increased to €120.
There will be no increase to the number of penalty points as that would require primary legislation.
Mr Ross said the change is because cyclists are a particularly vulnerable group and there is a need to recognise that.
He said there will be thorough garda enforcement and a renewed campaign by the Road Safety Authority to educate drivers to give cyclists a recommended 1.5 metres of space when passing in zones with speed limits over 50kph and 1 metre on road where the limit is 50kph or lower.
There was a campaign to make those minimum passing distances a legal requirement but the Attorney General advised against a minimum passing distance law on grounds of enforceability.
