00:00Welcome back to West Yorkshire Cycling, I'm Michael.
00:27Today, we're examining a particularly concerning incident that occurred on Sunday, July 14,
00:342024, on Brighouse Road in Lonewall.
00:37What made this especially hazardous were the poor weather conditions and wet roads demanding
00:41extra caution from all road users.
00:44You can see the location on the map and the cyclist's direction of travel.
00:51And now, I'll see you in the next couple of minutes.
01:06Now, let's dissect this moment in slow motion, pay close attention to the lack of space,
01:35and the added risk factors.
01:48This footage was submitted to the West Yorkshire Police Safer Road submission portal on the very same day, July 14th.
01:55The police responded by email the next day, Monday, July 15th, confirming that inquiries were ongoing to trace the driver involved,
02:03so they could be dealt with for the offences identified.
02:07The initial step in such cases is typically sending a notice of intended prosecution, or NIP, to the vehicle's registered keeper.
02:15Receiving a NIP isn't an automatic prosecution.
02:18It's a formal warning that one may occur.
02:21The recipient then has 28 days to provide the name and address of who was driving at the time.
02:26It's crucial to comply, as failure to do so is an offence in itself, potentially resulting in six penalty points and a hefty £1,000 fine.
02:36Data from Operation Snap 4 July to September 2024 reveals the driver was dealt with for offence.
02:42RT-88576
02:44Drive a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or public place without reasonable consideration.
02:50This offence, under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, applies if someone is inconvenienced by the driving,
02:58and the Highway Code is unequivocal.
03:00Rule 163 clearly states,
03:02You should only overtake when it's safe.
03:05It mandates giving cyclists at least as much room as a car,
03:08with a minimum of 1.5 metres at speeds up to 30 miles per hour and more at higher speeds.
03:14Vitally, it also explicitly states that drivers should take extra care and give more space when overtaking in bad weather.
03:21As you saw, the driver of the black car overtook the cyclist in wet conditions, passing dangerously close.
03:27This already risky manoeuvre was made even worse by an oncoming car,
03:32significantly increasing the danger to the cyclist.
03:34The outcome, Operation Snap Data shows, the driver was offered an educational course.
03:39These courses aim to educate drivers, change attitudes, and prevent re-offending.
03:45If offered, there are 28 days to book and pay,
03:48and 120 days from the offence date to complete the course.
03:52The police do reserve the right to withdraw this offer, up until the course is completed.
03:57Drivers also have the option of a conditional offer fixed penalty or a court hearing.
04:02This incident is a stark reminder of the dangers on wet roads
04:07and the importance of adapting driving to conditions.
04:12If you found this important, please click the like button on our website and share this video.
04:17It could help make our roads safer for everyone.
04:19That's all from this edition of West Yorkshire Cycling.
04:27Until next time, stay safe cycling.
04:49West Yorkshire Cycling.
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