Shocking death threats over cyclist's safety message

WATCH: A Sunshine Coast man's educational road safety video has sparked horrifying online vitriol, but it's far from the first time.

Cam Frewer has created a facebook page to educate drivers about cyclists on the roads and he has received death threats for his efforts. Picture: John McCutcheon

CAM Frewer is no stranger to death threats and intimidation.

"If I ever see you on your f----t f---ing bike, I'll deadset run you over k---", a recent online threat said.

Sadly, he says it's his efforts to educate drivers and cyclists how to share the roads that have made him a target.

Mr Frewer started a Facebook page Drive Safe, Pass Wide which he uses as a forum to share educational material and videos of his near misses on Coast roads.

Online trolls plague his page with comments such as "Who the f--- do you think you are? Come ride in front of me and I'll run you over and reverse back to finish you. F--- off the road you muppet or watch what happens."

It's an attitude that flows onto the roads and Mr Frewer said he had lost count of the number of close calls he had as cyclists and drivers tried to share limited space.

"They have a heightened sense of entitlement," he said of some drivers.

"It is simple bullying, because their car is bigger and faster they don't consider cyclists as important.

"The comments I get are woeful. All I am doing is educating people.

"The only way we will have safer roads is by having safer drivers."

Sick of the close calls, Mr Frewer fitted a camera on his bike to capture incidents and mirror so he can see potential danger.

"It is incredibly scary. It is like you're standing in the middle of the road with cars coming at you, unable to move," he said.

"I've had countless times where they've come within 30cm of me. They can fly past at 60km/h or 100km/h, it doesn't matter.

"I know my vulnerability. We are starting to see how bad things are going in regards to deaths on the roads."

Mr Frewer doesn't claim all cyclists are blameless - he just wants the roads to be as safe as possible.

Cam Frewer has created a facebook page to educate drivers about cyclists on the roads and he has received death threats for his efforts. Picture: John McCutcheon

And he has called for police to get tougher.

"Going forward, it would be good if police supported the rule 144A on safe passing, which is four years old now," he said.

"Police also need to step up fining riders who flout the laws too.

"Everyone calls for rego (of cyclists) but that is unlikely to happen. I would be happy to pay a fee, though, if it meant I was treated a bit better."

Queensland Police said they regularly partnered with government departments and community organisations to promote road safety for cyclists and motorists.

"The QPS is committed to providing a safe environment for all road users and employ a variety of proactive and reactive strategies to target motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who engage in high risk road behaviour," a spokesperson said.

"Sunshine Coast police and officers from the Road Policing Command work closely with the local cycling community on a significant number of events throughout the year.

"Officers are tasked to enforce all breaches of the road rules applicable to all road users."

The spokesperson said that while Section 144A made it an offence for the driver of a motor vehicle to pass too close to a cyclist, the onus was with the prosecution to "prove each and every element of the offence beyond a reasonable doubt".

"At times it may be more appropriate to instigate proceedings against the driver of a motor vehicle for a greater offence, such as dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, driving without due care and consideration or failing to have proper control of a vehicle.

"Each and every offence needs to be considered on the evidence supporting the case."

Originally published as Shocking death threats over cyclist's safety message