Today on West Yorkshire Cycling, we’re looking at an extreme close pass on the A641 Bradford Road in Brighouse. The incident happened on Sunday, 15th September 2024 and involved a grey Peugeot 2008.
The map shows the location of the incident, along with the direction the cyclist was travelling.
Let’s take another look at this incident, this time in slow motion.
The cyclist was overtaking vehicles parked in the cycle lane when the grey car passed, failing to provide the required 1.5 metres—and more, given the wet conditions.
The footage was submitted the same day via the Safer Roads Media Submission Portal operated by West Yorkshire Police. An email acknowledgement was issued containing a unique reference number for the case.
On Tuesday, 17th September 2024, West Yorkshire Police provided a further update confirming that enquiries had begun to identify the driver. Once identified, the driver would be processed for the relevant offence or offences, with potential outcomes including an educational course, a Conditional Offer of Fixed Penalty, or a court hearing.
The process begins with a Notice of Intended Prosecution, or NIP, being sent to the registered keeper within 14 days of the offence. A NIP does not guarantee prosecution; it simply notifies the keeper that one may follow. The keeper then has 28 days to provide the driver’s name and address.
It is essential to provide 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 result in six penalty points and a fine of up to £1,000.
According to Operation Snap records for October to December 2024, 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 and applies when a driver’s actions inconvenience another road user.
Rule 163 of the Highway Code states that overtaking should take place only when it is safe and legal, and that cyclists must be given at least as much room as a car.
Drivers are advised to leave at least 1.5 metres at speeds up to 30 mph, with greater clearance required at higher speeds and in wet or poor weather. If this cannot be achieved safely, the driver should remain behind the cyclist.
Operation Snap confirms that the driver was offered an educational course. These courses can be taken only once in a three‑year period and are designed to address driving behaviour and reduce the likelihood of re‑offending.
The driver was given 28 days to book and pay for the course, and 120 days from the date of the offence to complete it. The police reserve the right to withdraw the offer at any stage before completion. While the driver could have chosen a Fixed Penalty or a court hearing, they opted to undertake the course at their own expense.
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That’s all from West Yorkshire Cycling for this edition. We’ll be back with another episode soon. Until then, take care on the roads.
