Today, we’re examining a particularly concerning incident that occurred on Sunday, July 14th, 2024, on Brighouse Road in Low Moor. What made this especially hazardous were the poor weather conditions and wet roads, demanding extra caution from all road users.
This footage was submitted to the West Yorkshire Police Safer Roads Submission Portal on the very same day, July 14th.
The police responded by email the next day, Monday, July 15th, confirming that enquiries were ongoing to trace the driver involved so they could be dealt with for the offences identified.
The initial step in such cases is typically sending a Notice of Intended Prosecution, or NIP, to the vehicle’s registered keeper. Receiving a NIP isn’t an automatic prosecution; it’s a formal warning that one may occur. The recipient then has 28 days to provide the name and address of who was driving at the time. It’s crucial to comply, as failure to do so is an offence in itself, potentially resulting in six penalty points and a hefty £1,000 fine.
Data from Operation Snap for July to September 2024 reveals the driver was dealt with for offence, R T 8 8 5 7 6, ‘Drive a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or public place without reasonable consideration’. This offence, under Section Three of the Road Traffic Act 1988, applies if someone is inconvenienced by the driving.
And the Highway Code is unequivocal. Rule 163 clearly states you should only overtake when it’s safe. It mandates giving cyclists at least as much room as a car, with a minimum of 1.5 metres at speeds up to 30mph, and more at higher speeds. Vitally, it also explicitly states that drivers should take extra care and give more space when overtaking in bad weather.
As you saw, the driver of the black car overtook the cyclist in wet conditions, passing dangerously close. This already risky manoeuvre was made even worse by an oncoming car, significantly increasing the danger to the cyclist.
The outcome? Operation Snap data shows the driver was offered an Educational Course. These courses aim to educate drivers, change attitudes, and prevent re-offending. If offered, there are 28 days to book and pay, and 120 days from the offence date to complete the course. The police do reserve the right to withdraw this offer up until the course is completed. Drivers also have the option of a Conditional Offer Fixed Penalty or a court hearing.
This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers on wet roads and the importance of adapting driving to conditions.
