In today’s episode, we’re taking a close look at a close pass incident that happened in Halifax Town Centre on Sunday, August 11th, 2024. This incident, involving a silver Vauxhall Corsa, occurred on Broad Street.
The map on screen shows the location and the direction the cyclist was travelling. Let’s really unravel what happened, starting with the moments at the traffic lights, leading into the close pass.
First, take a look at this image as the cyclist approaches the lights. We’ve highlighted the middle of the carriageway. Now, in this next image, you can see the silver Corsa. Again, we’ve highlighted the middle of the carriageway. It’s clear the car has pulled up right next to the cyclist, in the same lane.
Now, let’s play the close pass in slow motion. Given the car’s position at the traffic lights, this outcome was almost inevitable, which is why the cyclist kept glancing to their right.
This footage was uploaded to the West Yorkshire Police Safer Roads Media Submission Portal on the very same day, August 11th, 2024. An email acknowledging the submission was received that day.
West Yorkshire Police responded on Wednesday, August 14th, 2024, informing us that enquiries were ongoing to trace the driver to deal with the offences highlighted in the footage.
These enquiries typically begin with issuing a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) to the registered keeper. A NIP’s purpose is to inform a potential defendant that they may be prosecuted for an offence while the incident is still fresh in their memory.
You have 28 days from receiving the NIP to provide the name and address of who was driving the vehicle at the time of the alleged offence. It’s crucial to be truthful: providing details of someone else when you were the driver could lead to an offence of perverting the course of justice, which carries serious penalties like a prison sentence or substantial fine.
Failing to comply with a NIP is also an offence itself. If you fail to provide the requested information, this carries six penalty points and a maximum £1,000 fine upon conviction.
Data from Operation Snap for July to September 2024 confirms the driver was dealt with. The offence was RT 88576: driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or public place without reasonable consideration, which falls under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. A person is considered to have driven without reasonable consideration only if their driving inconveniences someone.
Let’s look at how the Highway Code applies here:
Rule 170 covers the incident at the traffic lights. It tells drivers to take extra care at junctions and specifically states you should remain behind cyclists, horse riders, horse-drawn vehicles, and motorcyclists at junctions, even if they’re waiting to turn and positioned close to the kerb.
Rule 163 covers the close pass itself. It advises drivers to overtake only when it’s safe and legal. You should give motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders, and horse-drawn vehicles at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car. As a guide, leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds up to 30 mph, and even more at higher speeds. Critically, you should wait and not overtake if it is unsafe or impossible to meet these clearances.
So, what was the outcome for this driver? Operation Snap data shows the driver was offered an Educational Course. These courses aim to educate drivers, change attitudes, and prevent re-offending. You have 28 days from the date of the document to book and pay for the course, and then 120 days from the date of the offence to complete it.
The police always retain the right to withdraw a course offer at any time until you’ve completed it. You also always have the option to accept a Conditional Offer of Fixed Penalty or have the matter heard in court.
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That’s all from this edition of West Yorkshire Cycling. Keep safe out there!
