‘If anyone thinks this is an acceptable manner of driving, let this be your warning’
Sheffield police have released footage of a motorist who drove too close to a group of cyclists, resulting in him getting five points on his license and a £417 fine.
In the video captured by a cyclist’s helmet camera, a silver Peugeot can be seen speeding towards the group and past them, with the motorist actually crossing over onto the other side of the road at one point.
The cyclists were overtaking a parked car in single file. Sheffield North West police said the motorist passed the cyclists at “excessive speed and far too closely,” adding that the footage and punishment should be a “warning” to anyone who thinks this is acceptable.
COURT RESULT: CARELESS DRIVING. The driver of this vehicle decided to pass a group of cyclists at excessive speed and far too closely. Fined £417 in total, licence endorsed with 5 points. If anyone thinks this is an acceptable manner of driving, let this be your warning. pic.twitter.com/zInKYa84cc
— Sheffield North West NPT (@SheffNW_NPT) April 21, 2022
The police explained that there had been more cyclists behind the one who caught the footage, adding that the driver would have “seen a group of bikes in a line, and chose to accelerate to a speed increasing the danger to all of them and swerve over the white lines towards them.”
The force said that if the driver had “simply driven to the conditions at a less dangerous speed and stayed on his own side of the road he wouldn’t have been prosecuted.”
If he had simply driven to the conditions at a less dangerous speed and stayed on his own side of the road he wouldn’t have been prosecuted.
— Sheffield North West NPT (@SheffNW_NPT) April 23, 2022
The Alliance for British Drivers described the prosecution as “pathetic sucking up to the cycling lobby” and an “idiotic decision that undermines the credibility of the courts and the police.”
People were divided in the comments, with several wondering why the cyclists didn’t give way for their own safety because of the parked car on their side.
I think your find there’s a obstruction on the left and the cyclists should have given way but it’s a bent system and they wanted to nick some money out the motorist pockets
— i was ripped off by driftbridge audi of Epsom (@americans_dumb) April 21, 2022
The parked car provided the hazard. The oncoming car was travelling too fast for the conditions. However, in the interests of their personal safety, IMO the cyclists should have given way.
— Stephen Stringer (@loxleycountry) April 21, 2022
But many pointed out that the cyclists stayed on their side of the road at all times, unlike the driver of the Peugeot.
Yes, and the car has crossed the line presumably to avoid the trees. But the cyclist is on his own side all the time. The car should have waited till it was clear to cross the line. Good call
— Brian Davison (@revcounter19000) April 24, 2022
No, what you have to do is stay on your own side of the dividing line when other road users are approaching in the oncoming lane, as this driver didn't. If you find that a problem, hand in your licence, you're not fit to drive.
— Rendel Harris (@Rendel_Harris) April 21, 2022
Last month, Northamptonshire Police released footage of a similar incident in which a motorist caused a cyclist to fall off her bike.
The motorist doesn’t appear to touch the cyclist, but drove close enough to cause her to fall, and was fined £1,008 for driving without due care or attention.
Police described the incident as a “reckless overtaking manoeuvre.”
Recent changes to the Highway Code mean that motorists now need to give more priority and attention to other road users such as cyclists in a new ‘hierarchy of road users.’
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