Thames Valley Police set up an operation at Oxford Brookes campus to catch drivers who unsafely overtake cyclists on the road.

The safe pass operation took place from 7.45am this morning until noon at Oxford Brookes Headington Campus, at the junction with Gypsy Lane and Headington Hill.

The operation saw a plain clothes police officer, equipped with video equipment, ride up and down the road on a push bike.

If any drivers passed the cyclist too closely, he contacted police officers on motorcycles who pulled the driver over.

The motorist was then offered education, as opposed to prosecution.

Dave Nash, a representative of Oxford Cycling Club, said: “Initiatives like this give a very positive message to the cycling community that Thames Valley Police and the fire service are taking safety issues very seriously.

“It is all about education it’s about motorists, and also cyclists, learning from operations like this on how we can make the roads a bit safer.”

Mr Nash hopes drivers take away the message to be “considerate” and “patient”.

He said: “I think it is about being more considerate to cyclists, to be more patient when they are overtaking and also being aware of the potentially catastrophic consequences of hitting a cycling by driving too close to them.

“I think a lot of motorists do not really appreciate how terrifying it is for a cyclist to be passed so close. If a cyclist deviates from his or her line by just a small margin, there is no way a motorist can anticipate that.”

Oxford Mail: Demonstration of the safe overtaking distance Demonstration of the safe overtaking distance

PC Liz Johnson, roads safety officer for the Joint Operations Unit for Thames Valley and Hampshire Police, said: “The education is delivered by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, who we are working in partnership with.

“We want to raise awareness of the need to overtake cyclists giving at least 1.5 meters space, that is your arms completely stretched out. You need to overtake cyclists with as much room as you would a slow moving vehicle in order to be able to overtake them safely.

That is so they have room to go around potholes than maybe in the road. If you are driving too closely that brings a back draft that can also unsteady the cyclist and potentially make them fall off their bike.”

PC Johnston added: “You need to share the roads together and allow enough space in order to be able to safety continue your journey. It is really important that drivers concentrate on the road ahead and also ensure that drivers mirrors are fitted in the right places and be aware of what is around them.”

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/20042995.police-set-operation-oxford-brookes-catch-unsafe-drivers/

On 04/04/2022 13:19, swldx...@gmail.com wrote:

> Thames Valley Police set up an operation at Oxford Brookes campus to catch drivers who unsafely overtake cyclists on the road.

It would be easier to catch cyclists RLJ-ing.

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Spike

Lardvark. 3 hrs ago
User ID: 2339320
I don't see how that makes any difference. You still need to give 1.5 m wherever the cyclists is. If that means you can't legally overtake then you can't overtake. There is no legal requirement for you to overtake cyclists if they are in front of you.

APPLAUSE!