West Midlands Police’s plain clothes cyclists spurn hi-vis

West Midlands Police has provided a glimpse of one of the plain clothes cyclists who have been engaged in its close pass operation. To the consternation of some, the cyclist was not wearing high-visibility clothing with the force emphasising, “it's about normal people being safe on everyday journeys.”

On Friday, the force’s roads policing unit tweeted:

Today's #OpClosePass cyclist, it's about normal people being safe on everyday journeys @Woodgatefire doing the educating today #safercycling pic.twitter.com/i6Ljs1UVKX

— CMPG - Road Policing (@Trafficwmp) April 28, 2017

A suggestion by a Twitter user that “cyclists should always wear high-vis” brought the response, “Should they, why when contrast and drivers actually paying attention is the most important thing?”  

The force added:” Drivers need to look properly, move in their seats to check blind spots, anticipation of the probable is the trait of the competent driver.”

@JaySimo205 @GreenAlty @CCSteV @Woodgatefire We also suffer with Hi viz proliferation, there's that much of it around it doesn't register with most drivers as a hazard/vulnerable person

— CMPG - Road Policing (@Trafficwmp) April 30, 2017

In January, West Midlands Police said that its close pass operation had halved poor overtaking offences.

The scheme was called the “best cyclist road safety initiative ever” by Cycling UK, and the Road Danger Reduction Forum presented officers with an award last year.