In this edition of West Yorkshire Cycling, we review an extreme close pass on the A641 Bradford Road in Brighouse. The incident occurred on Sunday, 15th September 2024 and involved a silver Kia Venga.
The map shows the location of the incident and the direction the cyclist was travelling.
Let’s take another look at the incident in slow motion.
The cyclist was in primary position due to parked cars blocking the cycle lane on the left when the silver car passed at speed, leaving less than the required 1.5 metres in wet conditions.
The video was sent to West Yorkshire Police through the Safer Roads Media Submission Portal the same day, and the complainant received an immediate email acknowledgement with a unique reference number.
On Tuesday, 17th September 2024, the police emailed again to confirm that enquiries were underway to trace the driver. Possible outcomes include an educational course, a Conditional Offer of Fixed Penalty, or a court hearing.
The process begins when a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) is sent to the registered keeper within 14 days of the incident. Receiving a NIP does not mean prosecution is automatic; it is a formal warning that one may follow. The keeper then has 28 days to confirm who was driving.
Honesty is essential. Providing false information may amount to perverting the course of justice and can result in a substantial fine or imprisonment. Failing to respond to the NIP is also an offence and carries six penalty points and a maximum £1,000 fine.
According to Operation Snap records for July to September 2024, the driver was dealt with for offence RT88576: driving 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 behaviour inconveniences another road user.
Under Rule 163 of the Highway Code, overtaking is permitted only when it is 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. If these clearances cannot be achieved safely, drivers must remain behind the cyclist.
Operation Snap records show the driver was offered an educational course. These courses, which can only be taken once in any three years, are designed to change behaviour and reduce the likelihood of reoffending.
The driver had 28 days to book and pay for the course, and 120 days from the date of the offence to complete it. The police may withdraw the offer at any point before completion. Although the driver could have chosen a Conditional Offer of Fixed Penalty or a court hearing, they elected to complete the course at their own expense.
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This brings us to the end of this edition of West Yorkshire Cycling. We’ll be back with another episode soon. In the meantime, please take care while out on the roads.
