Cycling with cameras article

[Arjimlad]

@Arjimlad well done for the publications.
Your reporting rate is a little higher than mine, but my morning commute (pre Covid) was completed before a lot of people were dressed, which reduced incidents towards me.

Thank you. Working from home I do a quieter 10 mile route in the mornings, but when I do go into the office, 3x per week, it's unusual not to have a close pass to report.

 

[Deleted User]

What's officially considered a 'close pass ' then, in the interests of reporting?

 

[Arjimlad]

What's officially considered a 'close pass ' then, in the interests of reporting?

https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q967.htm sets it out clearly. I.e. it's not very well defined.

Personally, I recall any passes which made me concerned, and check the footage to see how much road space the driver left me between the side of the vehicle and the kerb.

 

[Bazzer]

What's officially considered a 'close pass ' then, in the interests of reporting?

Personally, if I am shocked or concerned at how close it is, (and that is dependent upon speed/circumstances), I'll review the footage when I get home and take a considered view. If I think it's too close, I will report it.

 

[Deleted User]

Personally, if I am shocked or concerned at how close it is, (and that is dependent upon speed/circumstances), I'll review the footage when I get home and take a considered view. If I think it's too close, I will report it.

Ok, do the Police usually just agree with you or is there a definitive distance?

 

[Deleted User]

https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q967.htm sets it out clearly. I.e. it's not very well defined.

Personally, I recall any passes which made me concerned, and check the footage to see how much road space the driver left me between the side of the vehicle and the kerb.

So, 1.5m but it's not the Law?

 

[Arjimlad]

@shep the police know driving without due care/consideration when they see it.

For example the police, the CPS, the magistrates and even the defence solicitor and the driver all agreed that this was actually too close for comfort.

Our debate on another thread earlier helped me analyse why I bother reporting drivers who pass me too close, who put others in danger by overtaking into oncoming traffic, or who use their phones at the wheel. A lot of them improve their driving, which has to be good for everyone.

Most road cyclists know what "too close" feels like especially at speed. The HWC is changing to spell out minimum passing distances depending on speed.

 

[classic33]

Personally, if I am shocked or concerned at how close it is, (and that is dependent upon speed/circumstances), I'll review the footage when I get home and take a considered view. If I think it's too close, I will report it.

If at speed, 20mph and above, and I can touch the vehicle I consider it a close pass. The same distance at a lower speed isn't always as bad.

@shep, the 1.5 metre, which West Midlands Police started with, came from the Staying Alive At 1.5 campaign in Ireland.

 

[Bazzer]

Ok, do the Police usually just agree with you or is there a definitive distance?

So far I am concerned, there is no definitive distance. It come downs to how uncomfortable I feel at the time of the pass and then later when reviewing the footage. Speed, nature/size of the vehicle and the road circumstances all play a part. Oddly, the police usually agree with me.