Crackdown as police use undercover cyclist to catch '˜close pass' drivers
Officers say a ‘close pass’ is a ‘danger’ to cyclists and is intimidating.
The News revealed how police in Hampshire had started using a plainclothes police officer on a bike to covertly record close passes.
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Hide AdHampshire police said there was a 50 per cent increase in fatal crashes involving bikes in 2016, compared to 2015.
Hampshire and Thames Valley police – who run the roads policing unit – said 1,122 pedal cyclists have been killed or seriously injured in the past three years.
Sgt Rob Heard, from the force, said: ‘A close pass not only presents danger to the cyclist but it’s also intimidating.
‘Drivers should be allowing other road users as much room they would a car – but many seem to not know this, or choose to ignore it.’
Drivers will be offered road-side education instead of prosecution for careless driving.