Derbyshire police warn of 'fatal consequences' for drivers overtaking cyclists too closely

It comes after the force joined Operation Close Pass – a national campaign running throughout this week to raise awareness about the dangers to vulnerable road users.

The initiative focuses on educating motorists to ensure they provide a safe passing distance to cyclists when overtaking and advising cyclists to ride safely and legally.

Officers from Derbyshire Constabulary’s Roads Policing Unit have patrolled bikes at different locations across the county this week to spot drivers which fail to overtake cyclists at a minimum distance of 1.5 metres or in a safe manner.

Detective Sergeant Darren Parkin, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "This operation is to get people thinking about the safety of others, as well as their own safety, when using Derbyshire’s roads.

"The consequences of not doing so, can have serious and quite often fatal consequences.

"The operation is about alerting people to the risk they pose to themselves or others.

"Whilst the ethos is on education, we will look to prosecute those committing any offences."

Drivers should leave at least a 1 metre gap when overtaking a cyclist at 20 mph and increase this to 1.5 metres if travelling at 1.5 metres, the police have said.

The minimum safe passing distances for motorists driving at 30 mph and above is at least 2 metres.

Police advise cyclists to be cautious when passing on the inside of large vehicles, particularly at junctions where the vehicle may turn left and to ride in the centre of the lane where the road is too narrow for overtaking.

Cyclists are also encouraged to ride assertively and make themselves visible to road users by not riding too close to the kerb.

While drivers are told to always allow ample room to pull back in after overtaking and drive wide and slowly, leaving the width of a car, when passing horses.

Motorists should not travel faster than 15 mph when overtaking a horse and are encouraged to keep their engine noise as low as possible and avoid sounding the horn, to prevent the animal from becoming frightened and panicking in traffic.

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