Close-pass footage has now been used to prosecute 78 drivers, say West Midlands police

Traffic police in the West Midlands say that third-party video footage has so far result in the prosecution of 78 motorists for passing cyclists too closely.

The figure was disclosed in a message on Twitter posted last Friday by the West Midlands Road Policing Unit.

#OpClosepass has now reached 78 prosecutions using 3rd party footage, here's a couple of the latest #GiveSpaceBeSafe #vulnerableroadusers pic.twitter.com/NjsERi7wUY

— CMPG - Road Policing (@Trafficwmp) October 21, 2016

The force launched its Operation Close Pass, which has been widely praised by cycling campaigners, last month.

> West Midlands Police to use cycling officer to target close-passing drivers

The initiative calls on motorists to give people on bikes at least 1.5 metres of room when overtaking – with police warning drivers that they will be prosecuted if they fail to comply.

There have been calls for police forces elsewhere to adopt the approach, with Metropolitan Police officers in Camden in north west London and North Wales Police having said that they will follow the lead of their colleagues in the West Midlands.

> North Wales Police latest to launch close pass operation

Last week, the force said in a message on Twitter that they had also been accompanied by an Edinburgh-based traffic officer from Police Scotland who had come to see their work at first hand.

Other campaigns highlighted on the force’s Twitter feed include seizing vehicles that are uninsured, as well as enforcing speed limits, with Green Party London Assembly Member Caroline Russell among those to applaud its approach.

Every police force in the country should learn from @trafficwmp, who *get* the need for a road danger reduction approach to policing roads. https://t.co/x1rMEI1P2S

— Caroline Russell (@CarolineRussell) 23 October 2016

This blog post from West Midlands Police sets out the type of incidents that should be reported.