In today’s episode, we are breaking down a close pass incident from Thursday, 31st October 2024, involving a silver van on the A62 Huddersfield Road in Liversedge.
The map shows the incident’s location and the cyclist’s direction of travel. Let’s review that footage now in slow motion.
The video was uploaded to the West Yorkshire Police Safer Roads Media Submission Portal on the same day. An email with a unique reference number was received confirming the submission. On Monday, 4th November 2024, West Yorkshire Police responded, confirming that enquiries were underway to identify the driver so they could be dealt with for the offences captured in the footage.
This process begins with issuing a Notice of Intended Prosecution, or NIP, to the vehicle’s registered keeper within 14 days of the offence. Receiving a NIP isn’t an automatic prosecution; it is a formal warning that one may follow. The recipient then has 28 days to provide the name and address of the person who was driving.
It’s critical to be truthful. Providing false details may constitute the offence of perverting the course of justice, which can lead to a prison sentence or a substantial fine. Failing to comply with the NIP is also an offence and can result in six penalty points and a maximum £1,000 fine on conviction.
Information from Operation Snap for October to December 2024 shows the driver was dealt with for the offence RT88576: ‘Drive a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or public place without reasonable consideration’. This falls under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and applies if someone is inconvenienced by the manner of driving.
This action is a clear violation of Highway Code Rule 163, which states you should only overtake when it is safe and legal to do so. The rule specifies giving cyclists at least as much room as you would a car and provides a clear guide: leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking at speeds up to 30 mph, and even more space at higher speeds. If it is unsafe or not possible to meet these clearances, you must wait.
So, what was the penalty? Operation Snap data shows the driver was offered an Educational Course, which is aimed at changing driver attitudes and preventing reoffending. A driver can only attend one such course in a three-year period. They had 28 days to book and pay for it and 120 days from the offence date to complete it. The driver still had the option of a fixed penalty or court, but in this case, they accepted the course.
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We will be back with another edition of West Yorkshire Cycling soon. Until then, please take care out on the roads.
