Police undercover cyclists to target danger drivers PAUL BRITTON
POLICE officers will go undercover as cyclists to catch danger drivers.
GMP traffic unit’s operation aims to target motorists who put cyclists’ lives at risk by overtaking dangerously close.
Officers will wear body cameras and devices will also be fixed to their bikes to capture and record any offences.
The nearest police patrol would be alerted to intercept and question drivers involved.
The operation, which echoes a crackdown launched last year by West Midlands Police, has been welcomed by council chiefs and cycling bodies.
Trial runs of the ‘close pass’ initiative have taken place in Tameside, Bolton and central Manchester and plain-clothed officers will now take to roads across Greater Manchester.
Widely-established rules of the road suggest motorists should give cyclists at least the same space as vehicles when overtaking.
But drivers encroaching the Highway Code’s safe passing distance of 1.5 metres now run the risk of being prosecuted for driving without due care and attention.
Insp Paul Rowe, from GMP’s collision investigation unit, said: “Our warning to reckless drivers is that the next cyclist you overtake could be a police officer.
“The close-pass initiative highlights the need for all road-users to be respectful of each other’s space.
“It is vital that motorists understand that cyclists are given the same rights and protection as any other road-user.”
In the first instance offending drivers will be offered ‘on-the spot education’, but those who refuse to engage are likely to be charged and risk fines or penalty points on their licence, police said.
Latest available figures from the Department for Transport last autumn showed the number of cyclists injured on roads in Greater Manchester fell by a third.
There were 413 cyclists involved and injured in road accidents in 2015, including three fatalities. It marks a drop of 33 per cent compared with the 617 injuries, including one fatality, recorded in 2014.
Coun Mandie Shilton Godwin, lead member for active travel at Manchester council, backed the initiative and said: “Close passes are uncomfortable – and sometimes frankly dangerous – so reminding motorists about this issue should help everyone feel more inclined to cycle.
“I hope that promoting respect and consideration between all road-users leads to safer, stress-free journeys for all of us.”
Graham Jones, chairman of the Greater Manchester Casualty Reduction Partnership, added: “There’s a lot of work going on in Greater Manchester to make cycling a convenient and viable travel choice for as many people as possible by providing improved facilities and infrastructure, and training for both cyclists and drivers. Road safety campaigns such as GMP’s close pass initiative have a proven record of successfully changing driver behaviour and improving the mutual respect between all road-users.”