The New Zealand Transport Agency is to be asked to investigate making high-visibility vests and brightly coloured helmets compulsory for cyclists as a result of the death of a Dunedin man who was struck by a vehicle on State Highway 1 near Allanton last year.
Otago-Southland region coroner David Crerar will also recommend the agency investigate making the use of headlights compulsory at all times for vehicles on the open road, to make them as visible as possible to other road users.
Mr Crerar said he would make the recommendations in his final finding on the cause and circumstances of the death of the cyclist, the Rev Dr Alan Richard Kerr.
Police officers told the court Dr Kerr (66) was cycling home to Allanton from Mosgiel, when he turned on to State Highway 1 from Gladstone Rd about 3pm on June 30 last year.
It appeared he was unable to cross immediately to the south-bound lane because of the traffic, so decided, rather than stop cycling which would have required unlocking a shoe from one of the pedals on his road bike, to continue slowly in a south-bound direction at the far side of the north-bound lane until there was a gap in the traffic and he could cross the highway.
Constable Mark Durant, of Mosgiel, said when one south-bound vehicle passed, Dr Kerr appeared to think he had a gap and rode across the highway.
He was subsequently struck by the next south-bound vehicle, driven by Mosgiel man Jeff Connell.
Dr Kerr died instantly.
Mr Connell, a former Department of Conservation Otago conservator, was on his way to the airport.
He was travelling at about 100kmh and would have had about two or three seconds to see and react to the decision made by Dr Kerr.
Police found no legal liability on Mr Connell's part and had no criticism of him or his driving, Const Durant said.
They believed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Dr Kerr's death.
Mr Crerar commended Dr Kerr's wearing of a visibility vest, but said combined with his otherwise dark clothing, the fact he was wearing a backpack over his vest meant his visibility was reduced.
"A high-visibility vest is only of use if it can be seen."
He was mindful of the strobing effect from nearby trees which would have decreased the ability of drivers to see Dr Kerr.
While he did not wish to criticise Mr Connell and apportioned no blame to him in relation to the death, having his car lights on would have made him even more visible to Dr Kerr.
Mr Connell's large white vehicle should have been visible to Dr Kerr from his vantage point on that stretch of road.
Andy Knackstedt, of NZTA, which is running Bike Wise month in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, said the agency encouraged cyclists to wear fluorescent clothing and to be visible on the road, and it was in their own interests to do so.
He could not comment further, or on the other matters, until the agency had received a copy of the coroner's finding.
Mr Crerar said his finding would be completed in the next few weeks, and a copy forwarded to the agency.
From the ODT