In this edition of West Yorkshire Cycling, we review an extreme close pass at a traffic light junction on the B6432 St Andrew’s Road in Huddersfield. The incident occurred on Sunday, 10th November 2024 and involved a black Vauxhall Zafira.
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.
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, 12th November 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 procedure begins with the police issuing a Notice of Intended Prosecution, or NIP, to the registered keeper of the vehicle. This must be served within 14 days of the alleged offence. A NIP is not a prosecution in itself; it is a formal notification that one may follow. The recipient is legally required to identify the driver within 28 days.
Accuracy is vital. Providing false information may constitute perverting the course of justice, an offence that can result in imprisonment or a significant fine. Failure to comply with the NIP is a separate offence, attracting six penalty points and a fine of up to £1,000 upon conviction.
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 is an offence under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, which applies when another road user is inconvenienced by the driver’s actions.
Rule 163 of the Highway Code requires drivers to overtake only when it is safe and legal, and to give cyclists at least the same space as a car.
The guidance specifies a minimum of 1.5 metres at speeds up to 30 mph, with more room needed at higher speeds and in poor weather. If this space cannot be given safely, drivers must wait behind the cyclist.
Operation Snap confirms that the driver was offered an educational course. Such courses are available only once in a three‑year period and are designed to address driving behaviour and reduce re‑offending.
The driver was given 28 days to book and pay for the course, with 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 opted for a Fixed Penalty or a court hearing, they chose to undertake the course at their own cost.
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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.
