Police forces are cracking down on drivers who break Highway Code rules when overtaking cyclists as part of a new campaign.
West Yorkshire Police have adopted an educational strategy for motorists who endanger cyclists by overtaking too closely, prioritising roadside discussions over legal action.
The force’s approach centres on immediate intervention when dangerous overtaking occurs, with officers stopping vehicles to engage drivers in conversations about road safety rather than issuing penalties.
This initiative represents a shift towards behavioural change through education, targeting the widespread issue of vehicles failing to maintain safe distances when passing cyclists on the region’s roads.
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The new police scheme aims to educate drivers on the details included in the Highway Code
Police cyclists patrol various routes, identifying motorists who breach safety guidelines, before colleagues intercept these drivers for on-the-spot educational interventions.
Since April 2024, the force has examined 3,561 instances of vehicles passing cyclists at unsafe distances.
Of these, 2,547 resulted in formal action through educational courses, fixed penalties or court proceedings.
Sergeant Jamie Wilkinson said: “It does have an enforcement side to it if the circumstances fit but it is very much about educating people about passing cyclists safely,” he told the BBC.
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When overtaking cyclists, drivers should leave at least 1.5 metres of space
The initiative reflects a deliberate choice to prioritise education, with officers viewing roadside conversations as more effective than traditional enforcement methods for achieving lasting behavioural change among motorists.
Two recent enforcement exercises took place at Shipley fire station and in the Ilkley area, where officers intercepted six motorists for unsafe overtaking.
The Highway Code mandates that vehicles maintain a minimum gap of 1.5 metres when passing cyclists at speeds up to 30mph, with greater distances required at higher speeds.
Drivers should allow at least two metres of space when passing horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10mph.
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At least two metres of space should also be given when overtaking a pedestrian walking on the road, with low speeds encouraged when a pavement is not available.
To illustrate these requirements, officers now employ specialised mats that visually demonstrate the proper overtaking distance to stopped motorists.
Sergeant Wilkinson continued, saying: “This is far more the preferable option – rather than either doing nothing or perhaps overzealously prosecuting in people’s eyes or worse still having to deal with the aftermath of a collision.”
Data from the Department for Transport found that vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, represented more than one-third of all traffic casualties in West Yorkshire during 2023.
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The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to prioritise the safety of more vulnerable road users
The safety concerns are particularly acute among female cyclists, who reported feeling unsafe on roads earlier this year.
These statistics underscore the importance of the educational programme, which emerged following Highway Code updates that established clearer road user hierarchies prioritising vulnerable groups.
West Yorkshire Police plan to extend these educational operations throughout the Bradford district during the summer months.
They will look to maintain their focus on changing driver attitudes through direct engagement rather than punitive measures.
