In today’s edition, we’re looking at a concerning incident that unfolded on Thornes Road in Wakefield, on Sunday, August 25th, 2024. Thankfully, the weather conditions were clear and sunny, which makes the upcoming footage even more notable.
This footage was submitted to West Yorkshire Police via their Safer Roads Media Submissions Portal on the very same day, August 25th. An email with a unique reference number confirmed its receipt.
Just a few days later, on Wednesday, August 28th, West Yorkshire Police updated us by email, confirming that enquiries were underway to trace the driver and address the identified offences.
So, what does ‘addressing the offences’ typically involve? It often starts with sending a Notice of Intended Prosecution, or NIP, to the vehicle’s registered keeper, which needs to happen within 14 days of the incident. The NIP’s purpose is crucial: it informs a potential defendant about a possible prosecution while the details are still fresh in their memory. The recipient then has 28 days to provide the name and address of who was actually driving.
It’s vital to be truthful here. Falsely naming someone else if you were the driver could lead to a serious charge of Perverting The Course of Justice, which can mean a prison sentence or a substantial fine. And simply not complying with the NIP? That’s an offence in itself under Section 172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Fast forward, and data from Operation Snap for July to September 2024 revealed the outcome. The driver was dealt with for offence RT88576: ‘Driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or public place without reasonable consideration.’ This falls under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Remember, driving without reasonable consideration is defined by whether someone is inconvenienced by the driving.
This directly links to the Highway Code, specifically Section 163, which states you should only overtake when it’s safe and legal. It emphasizes giving motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders, and horse-drawn vehicles at least as much room as you would a car. And for cyclists, the guidance is even clearer: leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking at speeds up to 30mph, and even more space at higher speeds.
As you clearly saw in this video, the driver overtook at speed and passed the cyclist extremely close – a clear breach of that guidance.
So, what was the consequence? Operation Snap data showed the driver was offered an Educational Course. These courses aim to change driver behaviour through training, rather than just fines and points. However, there’s a condition: you can only be offered such a course if you haven’t attended one in the previous three years. If offered, you have 28 days from the document date to book and pay, and you must complete it within 120 days of the offence. It’s also worth noting the police can withdraw a course offer right up until you’ve completed it. Of course, drivers still have the option to accept a Conditional Offer of a fixed penalty or take the matter to court.
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