Derbyshire cyclist pleads with motorists to take care behind the wheel after near miss video passed to police

Brampton resident Zoe, 53 – her surname withheld due to fear of a backlash – pedals out into the national park on her mountain bike four or five times a week and what used to be an enjoyable way to brush off the cobwebs is now more likely to bring a brush with serious injury.

She said: “There’s a difference from a few years ago. I’m not as relaxed before I go out, I’m just anticipating how many people will put me at risk that day. It isn’t the way it should be.”

Zoe, who works in manufacturing design, has so far avoided any collisions but puts that down to luck more than anything else.

She said: “It’s quite rare in cycling circles to get to my age without being knocked off at least once. The majority of other cyclists I have spoken with in the area all have regaled me with tales of being knocked off. I know someone it happened to a few weeks ago near Barlow and they ended up in A&E. It makes you very aware how vulnerable you are.

“The law dictates that drivers should leave about six feet of space when overtaking cyclists at speeds over 30 miles per hour. That feels a bit excessive to me.

“Anything over three feet I’d probably consider safe but often I’m getting cars pass seven or eight inches from my handlebars at 40-50 mph. It really affects your confidence and willingness to get on the bike.”

She added: “Most of the time it’s completely avoidable too. If the driver could wait three seconds for a gap in the traffic, or to get past an island in the road, they’d have plenty of space. Other times, it’s people trying to overtake on blind bends. I’ve see a few situations close to head-on collisions.

“A lot of it is down to impatience. People just won’t delay their journey by a few seconds. Other times it feels like some drivers take umbrage with cyclists being on the road and will drive closer to intimidate you. I do think some do it intentionally when there is plenty of room to overtake.”

Such encounters prompted Zoe to buy a handlebar video camera which has allowed her to collect evidence of dangerous driving for possible prosecution.

Over the past three months alone, she has submitted an estimated 30 clips to the Derbyshire Capture web portal, which allows any road user to have their footage reviewed by police.

Capture was launched in 2019 as part of a national scheme but Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner Angelique Foster increased its local staffing budget last year and that may be paying off.

In most cases she has submitted, Zoe says the result was a warning letters issued to the driver but at least one case she describes as “terrifying” – involving a lorry loaded with hay – may be headed to court for further action.

She said: “I’m pleased to see the police responding to it. I think they’re taking these situations more seriously now due to the number of clips being submitted.

“The first few clips I submitted resulted in no further action, which disheartened me a bit, but it got to the point where something was happening on every ride so I started sending the videos in again. Some rides I won’t see any issues, but I sent four videos yesterday alone – the most I’ve ever had from a single ride.”

She added: “I would love to see more cyclists with cameras on their bikes. There aren’t nearly enough out there that I see.

“These situations are happening all over the place, and you can’t have cameras everywhere but I think the system could work. Even if it’s just a warning letter, I hope it will make drivers think twice next time they’re out. It should be a deterrent.

“Once the driver in any clip is identified it gets logged on police computers so they can see if they have a history of incidents and, if they have been in trouble before, maybe it’s more likely to proceed to prosecution. I think this will pick out the most dangerous offenders on the road.

Zoe decided to contact the Derbyshire Times with her concerns after a ride around Owler Bar, Baslow and Holmesfield on Monday, October 2, when she spotted three cars which had left the road in a few days prior and were waiting to be removed – which felt like another clear sign of deteriorating driver standards.

She said: “The quality of driving is far worse since Covid lockdowns ended. It was never this bad before. It’s abysmal. If it’s this bad just in this small area what is it like countrywide?

“I wouldn’t say this is a campaign but it’s simply not safe out there, not just for me but for motorists as well – and I’m a driver myself.”

A Derbyshire police spokesman said: “We were made aware of an allegation of close pass with a cyclist in Sheffield Road, Baslow on Thursday, August 31 at 7.50am.

"The victim alleged that a lorry passed close to a cyclist.

"Footage was submitted to the force and an investigation was launched.

"The investigation continues and no charges have been brought.

"Anyone who is a victim of, or a witness to, a road traffic incident can submit footage via Derbyshire Capture.

“The footage will be reviewed and my form the basis for an investigation into any alleged offences.”