In a speed zone of 50 km/h or below, the RSA says to leave at least 1 metre when passing a cyclist. In a zone over 50 km/h, leave at least 1.5 metres. If you cannot create that space safely, do not squeeze through. Wait.
This is not just a pair of numbers to memorise. A theory-test question may add oncoming traffic, a bend, a junction, parked cars, potholes or a cyclist moving away from the kerb. The safe answer depends on the whole scene, not only the distance.
Is the Safe Gap 1 Metre or 1.5 Metres?
The RSA cyclist-safety guidance divides the minimum clearance by speed zone:
- 50 km/h or below: leave at least 1 metre.
- Over 50 km/h: leave at least 1.5 metres.
The dividing factor is the posted speed zone, not the speed showing on your dashboard at that moment. Slowing down is still important, but driving at 30 km/h on a road with an 80 km/h limit does not turn the guidance into a 1-metre pass.
These distances are minimum safety buffers. Reaching the number does not automatically make an overtake safe. You still need enough clear road to complete the entire manoeuvre without forcing the cyclist, an oncoming driver or anyone else to change course.
What Does Irish Law Say About Overtaking Cyclists?
The law and the RSA guidance fit together, but they are not worded in the same way. S.I. No. 495/2019 says a driver must not overtake or attempt to overtake if doing so would endanger or cause inconvenience to a pedal cyclist. The legislation does not itself state the 1-metre and 1.5-metre measurements; those are the RSA's practical safe-passing guidance.
That distinction matters for the theory test. Do not choose an answer merely because it seems to provide the minimum measured gap. Choose the answer that also keeps the complete overtake safe and does not pressure another road user.
When Should You Stay Behind?
Stay behind the cyclist when:
- there is oncoming traffic and it prevents you leaving the safe gap;
- you cannot see enough clear road ahead;
- you are near a bend, the brow of a hill or another restricted view;
- the road narrows or is too tight to preserve the clearance;
- you are approaching a junction and intend to turn left; or
- passing would force another person to brake, swerve or alter course.
The RSA explicitly warns drivers not to squeeze past when there is oncoming traffic or when the road ahead is not clearly visible. A slow cyclist is not an emergency. Waiting for a genuinely safe passing place is the correct driving decision.
How Do You Overtake a Cyclist Safely?
- Check that the road ahead is clear for the full manoeuvre.
- Check your mirrors and blind spot.
- Signal in good time.
- Move out far enough to preserve the correct passing distance.
- Pass smoothly without exceeding the speed limit.
- Check the mirror before returning left.
- Move back gradually without cutting across the cyclist.
Allow extra room in wet or windy conditions. A cyclist may need to move around potholes, drains, debris or an uneven road edge. Treat the space around the bicycle as working safety room, not spare tarmac for your car.
Practise the exact scenarios in Cyclist Safety Questions, then test the rule under pressure in Practice mode.
Why Might a Cyclist Move Away From the Kerb?
A cyclist's road position may be deliberate rather than careless. The RSA's Rules of the Road explains how cyclists may need to position themselves for visibility, junctions, turns, bends, uneven surfaces or obstacles.
Do not assume a cyclist will hold a perfectly straight line while you pass. Look farther ahead for parked cars, broken surfaces and narrowing lanes. If the available gap is shrinking, wait rather than trying to thread the car through it.
What Should You Check at Junctions and Parked Cars?
Check mirrors and blind spots before turning or changing position, especially before a left turn. Do not overtake a cyclist immediately before turning left across their path. Before opening a vehicle door, check the mirror and look behind for a cyclist approaching alongside parked traffic.
Junction checks are not a minor detail. The RSA's May 2026 Cyclist Spotlight report says 48% of recorded serious cyclist injuries during 2021 to 2025 occurred at junctions. The RSA notes that information from 2022 onwards is provisional and may change.
How Should You Remember This for the Theory Test?
50 or below: 1 metre. Over 50: 1.5 metres. No clear road: no overtake.
Then apply the wider safety test: can you see the full road you need, preserve the gap, avoid cutting in and complete the manoeuvre without making anyone else react? If not, wait.
Use Cyclist Safety Questions to drill the rule, continue in Practice mode, and finish with a 40-question mock test to make sure you can recognise the safe answer when the wording changes.