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news
Leicestershire Police may invite cyclists to send in video of dangerous passes
Leicestershire Police may invite cyclists to send them footage of dangerous drivers in a clamp down on close passing.
The force is looking at how video submissions could be made, following similar initiatives from other forces.
Eric Ludlow, of Leicester Cycling Campaign Group told the Leicester Mercury: "These days many cyclists have cameras and record (their journeys).
"West Midlands Police and the Met, in London, already accept third party video footage from cyclists and it is encouraging that Leicestershire will do the same."
The police officers have also made a video about the Safe Pass initiative to educate drivers.
Narrated by 14 year old police cadet Keira Pibworth, who was also involved in the filming, the 90 second video has been timed to coincide with the run-up to school holidays, when more cyclists will take to the roads for leisure or because they are cycling to work during better weather.
The force will stage a crackdown on behaviour in early July, in an operation lasting two weeks.
Inspector Paul Crewe, of Leicestershire Police, said: "Providing motorists with the information they need to make a safe pass is a crucial part of this campaign.
"Our aim is to make the roads safer for cyclists by educating motorists about the distances they need to leave when overtaking, as well as getting them to think about the risks involved before they start to pull out.
"It appears that most instances of dangerous overtaking are going unreported, which helps to explain why we don't have an accurate picture of how big the problem is.
"However, nationally there is a growing awareness and we have a responsibility to inform and warn motorists of the dangers and potential penalties involved."
Chris Boardman, who has given his backing to the film said: "It's great to see Leicestershire Police launch this initiative.
"Close pass education projects such as this are becoming the norm rather than the exception within police forces across the country, and are extremely useful to explain that cyclists are not just obstacles in the road to get around but people - sons, daughters, mothers and fathers.
"Bad driving affects us all no matter how we choose to travel and this sends a message that people's safety is being taken seriously."
In January we reported how West Midlands Police said that helmet- and dash-cam footage provided by road users is now of such high quality that motorists accused of dangerous close passes are tending to admit their offences without question.
A total of 130 motorists were pulled over during nine outings of a West Midlands Police road safety initiative operation, with eight prosecuted for driving without due care and attention.
One driver’s licence was immediately seized after they failed a road-side eye test.
The #GiveSpaceBeSafe scheme was launched by the force last September and sees plain clothes cops pedalling the region’s busiest roads on the lookout for motorists who pass too close for comfort.
Offenders are offered an on-the-spot educational input on safe overtaking using a specially designed floor mat.
But anyone who refuses to take part in the tutorial − or is deemed to have committed a particularly hazardous overtaking manoeuvre − can expect a date in court.
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13 comments
I don't know what exactly Plasterer fantasized that I wanted to, but all I want is to have safe roads and efficient roads for all road users. Just a couple of cyclists who ride side by side (a proper peloton is a different case) or a cyclist who rides at the centre of the road without the threat of door zone, will eventually make criminal behaviors like this http://road.cc/content/news/222195-video-van-driver-forces-cyclist-road-... often.
The reason I am saying such stuff is because I am not sure if the people mocking me are regular drivers apart from cyclists. I both ride and drive so I want both sides to be happy. And as a cyclist I know that having a bunch of drivers in my six is not a good thing, as when I make them harder to overtake me by sitting in the middle of the road or right to my mate, safe opportunities to overtake reduce and that could lead to an error easier. It's not rocket science but if you drive it is even easier to understand. But even if an accident doesn’t happen, the lost time the driver will have spent is definitely not good nor for me when I am on the driver side but not for me too when I am on the cyclist/pedestrian/resident side, as air pollution shall increase and make even worse our import/export balance caused by increased fuel consuption
But the biggest reason I believe that following the rule of 0,75m distance between bicycle wheels and road curb that close pass initiatives propose (together with the 1,5m overtaking distance http://road.cc/content/news/219984-close-pass-campaign-be-rolled-out-pol... ) is safer than staying in the middle of the road, is because there are bad/drunk/speeding drivers and should one of them happens to be at your back prepared to overtake whilst a car is coming from the opposite direction, if you are 0,75m from the curb, you can somehow all three road users squeeze in two lanes. If you are in the middle of the road, you are a next day road.cc article with the dreaded yellow bicycle sign on tarmac and posts with 2-digit likes commenting that the driver is a c*nt and so on, touching wishes and so on. I don’t like drama, I just want to stay alive guys. I hope I have convinced some of you and take the right and efficient place on the road. What you are going to do is your business, if you want to drop the level of discussion and therefore yours by calling me a attention seeking troll or to go hide under my bridge is your choise but it will not give any solutions and it just wastes your time.
Goodnight mates!
Some of you lot have just given cyclisto just what he wanted.
I've just been out with the wife I held the centre of the road 2 abreast alot more cars slower and passed wide than when I ride solo
Which is great on most occasions, when the majority of road users will leave enough space . The main problem which the police are hopefully committed to solving is the mentality of some drivers who see cyclists as a nuisance. Or worse, a person who they have decided for some reason not to treat with the same basic respect that they would in any other part of their daily lives.
I am afraid that I will dissapoint the vast majority here, but this video is not setup right as it shows legal but not safe cyclist behaviour that seems to be encouraged. Couples of cyclists riding side to side, or individuals cycling in the middle of the road seem to me extremely dangerous to me for the current road infrastructure and users system. It is cool for somebody to ride next a buddy for fun or exercise, but just don't do it at roads with motor traffic, it both dangerous and inefficient.
Get back under your bridge.
Just because someone holds a different opinion to the majority doesn't make them a troll. I know we've only just seen the back of our latest troll infestation so patience may be a little thin.
@Cyclisto - you're right for the wrong reason, the video is flawed in that it illustrates a gap of 1.5m measured from the kerb, it would have been better to have shown the bike/chalk outline positioned further out into the lane and measured from there.
With regards to riding in the centre of the lane or in pairs I suggest you watch these:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJHXzt7TC2k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTGRQgw6PDA
Just because someone holds a different opinion to the majority doesn't make them a troll..."
No, it doesn't. But, posting comments on an article just to start an argument does.
Have to admit I particularly like the description of safe passing as "If I fall over, be far enough out that you won't hit me".
I agree, and is certainly a better wording than the HC 'as much room as a car' guidance, but again the video shows a chalk outline of the cyclist in a foetal position, I would have drawn it with say an arm outstretched. Despite this, I still think it's a good video and having a youngster in it and doing the voice over might make drivers think more... Like it or not some demographics garner more empathy than others (lycra clad bloke in his 40s for instance).
There you go. Some attention for you. bye bye trolly wolly woo
Were you watching it with the sound off? The video explains why side-by-side can be OK.
Aside from that, in what world would you consider the road in the video as busy or narrow?
Well they will be inundated with videos. The problem is, are they going to take action? I have a sticker on the back of the car warning drivers of recording and its amazing how many drivers back off and give me the 2 second gap. Video recording is the way to change poor behaviour