New footage shows vulnerability of cyclists

Drivers caught red handed

New footage has been released by the Devon and Cornwall road safety partnership, Vision Zero South West.

The video features four incidents across the two counties that were captured by cyclists and submitted to Devon and Cornwall Police's Operation Snap.

Research shows that cyclists are vulnerable to being killed or seriously injured in collisions despite being responsible for very little harm to other road users.

The 2019 Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) study "who kills most on our road" states: "Pedestrians and cyclists, sometimes views as 'unsafe', pose very little risk to road users. In fatal collisions between motor vehicles and pedestrians and cyclists, it's almost always the pedestrian or cyclist who dies, not the occupant of the motor vehicle.

“There were 3 people in motorised vehicles killed in collisions with pedestrians and cyclists in 2019. By contrast, 517 pedestrians and cyclists were killed by motorised vehicles.”

In the first 6 months of 2021, Operation Snap received 779 submissions - 408 saw notices of intended prosecutions issued and 144 cases resulted in an official police warning.

Superintendent Adrian Leisk, Alliance strategic lead for roads policing, said the dashcam videos should send a clear message to drivers as to what is not acceptable when overtaking cyclists.

He said: “Vision Zero South West has identified cyclists as a vulnerable road user group in Devon and Cornwall and it’s vital we protect them from harm.

“The examples shown in the video submissions to Op Snap show vehicles travelling far too close to cyclists and often at too high speeds.  All of these cases resulted in the motorists being sent on driver training courses, at their expense as an alternative to a fine and points.”

“Cyclists have a right to be free of the dangers posed by these road users. I am incredibly keen to promote safe, healthy, and sustainable travel as this helps us to reduce pressure on our NHS and address the climate emergency. The behaviours featured in these clips actively deter people, particularly younger people from cycling on our roads.

"I’d like to remind drivers that when overtaking people on bicycles you must give them at least 1.5m of space and reduce your speed when doing so. The Highway Code allows cyclists to ride 2 abreast, another issue widely misunderstood. If it isn’t safe to overtake, please wait. Is it worth risking another human life to save a few seconds?

“If you place someone’s life in danger, there’s a strong chance you will end up being reported to us and facing the consequences.”

The police and crime commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, Alison Hernandez, said: "All road users must learn to share our public highways and treat each other with respect – there’s no excuse for anything less.

“Together with National Highways, my office has recently funded 170 dashcams to be distributed to companies across Devon and Cornwall that regularly travel around the region.

“This gives us 170 extra pairs of eyes on our roads to capture dangerous drivers and take action against them through Devon and Cornwall Police’s Op Snap initiative.

“With more people watching, the chances of bad drivers getting caught will increase.  I hope this makes motorists more alert and, in turn, will make our roads safer for everyone.”

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member for highway management and vice chair for the Vision Zero South West road safety partnership, said: “It's horrifying to see some of the close passes captured through Op Snap and it should serve as a reminder as to how vulnerable cyclists are on our roads. 

“Driving too close and too fast past other road users is unacceptable. We all need to take extra care on Devon's roads and ensure that we give other road users plenty of space. 

“Op Snap is proving to be extremely effective in prosecuting dangerous driving and I hope everyone continues to submit their footage to Devon and Cornwall Police to help make our roads safer.”

If you've got dashcam footage you would like to send to Operation Snap, you can do so here.