'Close pass' drivers offered education sessions

Police cyclists identify drivers who have passed too close as part of the operation

Drivers caught passing cyclists too closely are being offered education instead of prosecution by West Yorkshire Police.

Several operations are running across the Bradford district with the aim of changing driver behaviour and attitudes through education.

Between April 2024 and April 2025 police reviewed 3,561 cyclist close pass incidents.

Sgt 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."

Sgt Jamie Wilkinson said education is the goal

The Highway Code says vehicle users should leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds.

The operation involves a police cyclist heading out on the roads. Any cars who overtake dangerously are then pulled over by officers who speak to them about safe passing.

Two exercises have taken place recently - one at Shipley fire station, and another in the Ilkley area, where police stopped six road users.

Sgt Wilkinson said the aim was not necessarily to punish people, but instead have a conversation.

"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," he said.

The Highway Code says motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders and horse drawn vehicles should be given at least as much room as a car

Earlier this year, female cyclists told the BBC they did not feel safe on the roads.

In 2022 the Highway Code was updated and the hierarchy of road users was clarified to make sure the priority was given to vulnerable road users, which includes cyclists.

Data from Department of Transport found vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, accounted for 35% of all casualties in 2023 in West Yorkshire.

West Yorkshire Police are utilising new mats to demonstrate the distance drivers should allow to pass a cyclist safely.

Of the 3,561 cyclist close passes reviewed by the Op SNAP team between April 2024 and April 2025 they actioned 2,547 of those for process (course, fixed penalty or court).

West Yorkshire Police will be running more operations around the Bradford district across the summer.

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