Cyclists submitted 15,779 close pass videos to police in 2024 — more than double the 7,249 reported in 2021 — as police forces across England and Wales faced a surge in helmet and bike camera footage uploaded through Operation Snap.

IAM RoadSmart, a road safety charity, submitted a series of Freedom of Information requests to 43 forces throughout the country. Only 20 forces responded with usable data, but among them, the proportion of reports resulting in a notice of intended prosecution increased from 38 per cent in 2021 to 54 per cent in 2024.

IAM RoadSmart’s active travel spokesperson, Harriet Hernando, said: “It is extremely concerning that more than half of motorists don’t know how much space to give a cyclist when overtaking. Passing too closely to a cyclist can be intimidating and dangerous, especially if they need to move out to avoid a pothole.

“It is small wonder, then, that record numbers of cyclists are installing cameras and submitting footage of dangerous or careless drivers to the police. While it is heartening to see that prosecution rates have increased, it would be better if it didn’t reach that stage and motorists weren’t doing it in the first place.”

> Over 600 cases of dangerous driving in Warwickshire submitted by cyclists in 2025 already, as police share footage of incidents “putting lives at risk” — including a motorcyclist close passing cyclist at 120mph

A survey conducted by the road safety charity found that 58 per cent of drivers were unaware that the Highway Code recommends a minimum passing distance of 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph — and greater at higher speeds.

The organisation also claimed that many cyclists now view camera use as essential for self-protection and accountability, with basic models widely available for under £50.

Cycling UK’s head of campaigns, Duncan Dollimore, said the impact of changes to the Highway Code introduced in 2022 has so far been limited. “The majority of people who drive simply aren’t aware how much distance to give to people who cycle when overtaking,” he said. “This is why it’s crucial to educate all road users of their responsibility to protect those most vulnerable.”

West Mercia Close Pass Operation
West Mercia Close Pass Operation (Image Credit: West Mercia Police)

Provisional figures from the Department for Transport show 85 cyclists were killed on Britain’s roads in 2024. Between 2019 and 2023, most cyclist deaths involved a collision with a car.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We take road safety extremely seriously, and there are already strict penalties in place for those who put the safety of cyclists at risk. Our roads are among the safest in the world, but we are always looking to improve.”

> Police say drivers who close pass cyclists will avoid punishment… because there are too many of them for cops to cope

IAM RoadSmart has launched a No More Close Calls campaign to encourage safe overtaking and better driver awareness. The charity advises drivers to leave at least 1.5 metres when passing cyclists, to hang back by two or three car lengths when assessing whether it’s safe to overtake, and to never attempt a pass if visibility or road conditions are poor.

The surge in footage submissions is part of a wider trend. Between January 2021 and April 2024, 30 police forces across England and Wales received over 200,000 Operation Snap reports, according to figures compiled by Accident Claims Advice. Reports increased by 90 per cent over that period, with 85,114 cases logged in 2023/24.

Avon and Somerset Police close pass
Avon and Somerset Police close pass (Image Credit: Avon and Somerset Police)

As we reported in October, Avon and Somerset Police received the highest number of submissions of any force that year, with 8,595 videos sent in — over 60 per cent of them from cyclists. Almost 90 per cent of those reports resulted in some form of action, including 2,539 notices of intended prosecution and more than 5,000 warning letters. Between 2021 and 2024, the force received just under 20,000 submissions.

Chief Inspector Rob Cheeseman said: “It’s certainly something which we’ve had to adapt to. The community is speaking really loudly that these are dangers on the road. The goal is not to be targeting drivers unnecessarily — the ultimate goal is making the roads safer for everyone in Avon and Somerset.”

> Everything you need to know about bike cameras — how to choose, tips for recording quality footage and what to do if you capture a near miss, close pass or collision

West Yorkshire Police also saw a high volume of reporting, receiving 3,500 video submissions in the 12 months prior to June 2025, with 71 per cent leading to action such as fines, remedial courses, or court proceedings.

Speaking to the BBC last week, Huddersfield rider Frankie Leveton said: “It’s very rare that I go out on a bike ride and don’t have a close pass or a quite scary experience. It doesn’t stop the close passes, but it’s just a bit of a comfort blanket that yes, that was terrifying, but I’ve been empowered to be able to do something about it.”

Bristol-based camera cyclist Guy Buckland said earlier this year that he had submitted more than 1,300 clips to Avon and Somerset Police. “People have to realise the impact that bad driving has on people’s lives and communities,” he said. Buckland claimed that around 90 per cent of his reports had resulted in warning letters, fixed penalties, or prosecutions.

South Wales Police, however, recently confirmed that due to high demand, it has temporarily stopped issuing warning letters for non-urgent close pass reports. As road.cc reported on 10 June, cyclists like Dave, who submitted what he described as a “bad close pass in the rain” to the Operation Snap portal, have been told no further action would be taken.

Cyclist "dismayed" by "not interested" police force
Cyclist "dismayed" by "not interested" police force (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

> Cyclist “dismayed” by police “not interested in taking action against drivers”, as force admits “shortage in staff” and “very valid concerns”

In an email seen by road.cc, the GoSafe Wales team said: “Operation SNAP has become so successful that the team is no longer able to manage the demand submitted by the public. Therefore, until further notice, we will not be able to take any further action in cases that would previously have been dealt with by an advisory notice.”

Similar capacity issues were reported earlier this year in other forces, including Surrey, Thames Valley and the Metropolitan Police, where cyclists have been told some offences — such as motorists driving in bike lanes or down one-way streets — no longer fall within enforcement priorities or processing capacity.