A motorist who blasted their horn and brake checked a group of cyclists for failing to ride single file, causing one to crash and suffer serious long-term injuries, has been warned by a judge to give people on bikes space and respect on the road, after being sentenced to 150 hours unpaid work for the road rage incident.

Peter Harrison was riding with 11 other cyclists near Dinnington, a village nine miles north of Newcastle, on 19 November 2022 when they became aware of a driver travelling behind them, continuously blaring his horn.

Newcastle Crown Court heard this week that motorist Daniel Ghazal, then 18, had become “aggressive” and “impatient” towards the cyclists, who were riding two abreast, and who he believed were holding him up – despite a steady stream of drivers travelling in the opposite direction on what was described in court as a “relatively narrow single carriageway road”.

When Ghazal eventually overtook the group, he continued sounding his horn while making a series of hand gestures. As he passed the cyclists, he pulled in sharply, directly in front of them, and abruptly hit his brakes, the Chronicle reports.

In an attempt to avoid a collision, the cyclists also braked sharply, causing a ripple effect through the group which resulted in Mr Harrison, situated at the back, to crash.

> Near Miss of the Day 619: Close pass followed by punishment pass gets driver a “stern talking to” from the police – and nothing more

The 65-year-old, who is president of the Gosforth Road Club, suffered soft tissue injuries and bruising in the crash, and told the court this week that he continues to suffer pain and discomfort due to his injuries, as well as psychological trauma which has left him feeling scared while cycling on the road.

“I’ve as much right to use the roads as any other person but during this incident I was treated as someone who was not entitled to use the road and was not shown the same care and attention as I aim to show to others,” Mr Harrison said in his victim impact statement, which he read in court.

“I was forced off my bike because of what I believe to be the dangerous and deliberate actions of Daniel Ghazal.

“The physical injuries have had a long-standing effect and I continue to suffer pain and discomfort. I’ve also been assessed for ongoing psychological trauma.

“I’m a passionate road cyclist who has been left feeling scared and vulnerable on the roads, especially when I hear cars approaching from behind me. This sense of vulnerability has profoundly affected me.”

21-year-old Ghazal, who failed to stop at the scene following the crash, pleaded guilty to causing bodily injury by wilful misconduct or neglect. However, Chris Knox, defending, told the court that the motorist “did not accept” that he had braked deliberately.

“He did hoot and there was an unpleasant exchange,” he said. “He is a hard-working young man and he was only 18 at the time. He is working part-time and is a student.”

> Why do cyclists ride two abreast?

However, judge Julie Clemitson warned Ghazal that both his actions at the time of the incident, as well as the pre-sentence report, did “not fill me with any confidence” that the 21-year-old appreciates how “inappropriate” his driving was, or how his driving put a group of vulnerable road users in danger.

“You clearly thought they should fall into single file so you could find it easier to get past them,” Clemitson told the driver.

“That, in itself, demonstrates a concern you thought you might be able to squeeze past single file cyclists on that relatively narrow single carriageway road.

“It was perfectly apparent to the cyclists, whether they fell into single file or not, that you couldn’t get past because there was traffic coming the other way. Right from the start, you demonstrated a lack of understanding as to the vulnerability of cyclists and how to drive safely around them.

“You let your irritation be known by sounding your horn, and not just the odd toot but a continuous blast on the horn, which sounded aggressive and would have felt very aggressive towards them.

“I’ve no doubt you sought to make a point by pulling in front of them, far too close, then braking. You drove away, unaware the cyclist at the back had tumbled to the ground because of the way the cyclists in front of him had to brake.”

She continued: “Mr Harrison was right when he described cyclists as road users who are entitled to be on the road just as much as you and they are vulnerable and need to be given space and sufficient respect.”

Clemitson sentenced Ghazal to a community order forcing him to undertake 150 hours unpaid work, while he was also ordered to pay £500 in costs.

> Most drivers wrongly believe cyclists must ride single file, stay close to the kerb, and use cycle lanes – and one in three say they shouldn’t have equal rights on the road, new Highway Code survey finds

According to rule 66 of the Highway Code, which was updated in 2022, cyclists are permitted to ride two abreast on the road, noting that it can often be safer than riding single file, particularly in larger groups.

The rule states that cyclist should be “considerate of the needs of other road users when riding in groups”.

“You can ride two abreast and it can be safer to do so, particularly in larger groups or when accompanying children or less experienced riders. Be aware of drivers behind you and allow them to overtake (for example, by moving into single file or stopping) when you feel it is safe to let them do so,” the Highway Code states.

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However, like many other elements of the Highway Code, that guidance doesn’t appear to have crept fully into the consciousness of the nation’s drivers. Research carried out last year, for example, found that over half of the motorists surveyed (53 per cent) incorrectly agreed that cyclists must always ride in single file.

Meanwhile, when provided with the statement ‘Cyclists must use a cycle lane is one is available’, 77 per cent of the motorists surveyed incorrectly asserted that this was true, while 65 per cent wrongly agreed that ‘cyclists must stay as close to the left-hand side of the road as possible’.