Dozens back call for police force to crack down on danger drivers

CALLS ARE growing for police to crack down on motorists endangering cyclists’ lives in South Yorkshire.

More than 50 organisations, representing thousands of people, have backed demands for South Yorkshire Police to implement a close-pass initiative.

The policy, targeting drivers who fail to leave a safe 1.5-metre clearance when overtaking bikes, was first introduced by West Midlands Police in September 2016.

Motorists caught passing closer are given safety advice – and repeat offenders risk prosecution for driving without due care and attention.

The scheme has been adopted by forces across the country including in West Yorkshire and CycleSheffield has urged South Yorkshire Police to follow suit.

The campaign group says more than 50 organisations have now called on South Yorkshire’s police and crime commissioner Alan Billings to take up the initiative.

Dexter Johnstone, secretary of CycleSheffield, said: “South Yorkshire has a worse per-capita killed or seriously injured rate for cyclists than the West Midlands and the adoption of such a scheme would help improve both the safety and perception of safety of cycling in our region.

“We appreciate that police resources are under intense pressure due to central government’s ongoing austerity programme.”

However, West Midlands Police stated their close-pass initiative is cost-neutral.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “We are absolutely committed to safety for all road users and to reducing the number of people killed and injured on our roads.

He added: “We are continuing to look at the close-pass initiative and to evaluate its effectiveness.”