In this edition of West Yorkshire Cycling, we review a close pass on the A58 Halifax Road in Ripponden. The incident occurred on Sunday, 15th September 2024 and involved a grey Citroen Dispatch.
The map shows the location of the incident along with the direction the cyclist was travelling.
Let’s take another look at this incident, but in slow motion.
Overgrown vegetation blocks the cycle lane, pushing the cyclist into the road. As this happens, a van overtakes with very little clearance despite the wet conditions, on a section of road reducing from 40mph to 30mph.
The footage was uploaded to West Yorkshire Police via the Safer Roads Media Submission Portal on the same day, and the complainant received an email acknowledgement with a unique reference number confirming the submission.
On Tuesday, 17th September 2024, West Yorkshire Police emailed again to confirm that enquiries were underway to identify the driver so they could be dealt with for the offence or offences shown in the footage. Possible outcomes include an educational course, a Conditional Offer of Fixed Penalty, or a court hearing.
The process starts with a Notice of Intended Prosecution, or NIP, being sent to the registered keeper within 14 days of the offence. A NIP doesn’t guarantee prosecution; it simply warns that one may follow. The keeper then has 28 days to provide the driver’s name and address.
It’s essential to give accurate information. Supplying false details can amount to perverting the course of justice, an offence that carries the risk of a prison sentence or a substantial fine. Ignoring the NIP is also an offence and can lead to six penalty points and a fine of up to £1,000.
Information from Operation Snap for the period October to December 2024 confirms that the driver was dealt with for offence RT88576: Drive a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or public place without reasonable consideration. This offence falls under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. A person is considered to have driven without reasonable consideration if their driving inconveniences another road user.
Under Rule 163 of the Highway Code, overtaking is permitted only when it is both safe and lawful, and drivers must give cyclists at least the same clearance they would give a car.
The guidance recommends leaving at least 1.5 metres at speeds up to 30 mph, increasing this distance at higher speeds and in adverse weather conditions. Where these clearances cannot be achieved safely, the correct action is to remain behind the cyclist.
Operation Snap indicates the driver was offered an educational course. These courses, which can only be taken once every three years, are intended to improve driving attitudes and prevent repeat offences.
The driver had 28 days to book and pay, and 120 days from the date of the offence to complete the course. The police can withdraw the offer at any time before completion. Instead of accepting a Fixed Penalty or going to court, the driver chose to take the course.
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That concludes this edition of West Yorkshire Cycling. We’ll return with another episode shortly. Until then, stay safe on the roads.
