00:00Welcome to another edition of West Yorkshire Cycling, I'm Charles.
00:28In today's episode, we're taking a close look at a close pass incident that happened in Halifax Town Centre on Sunday, August 11th, 2024.
00:37This incident, involving a silver Vauxhall Courser, occurred on Broad Street.
00:42The map on screen shows the location and the direction the cyclist was travelling.
00:58The map on screen shows the location of the Courser.
01:28Let's really unravel what happened here.
01:58Let's see what happened, starting with the moments at the traffic lights leading into the close pass.
02:02First, take a look at this image as the cyclist approaches the lights.
02:06We've highlighted the middle of the carriageway.
02:08Now, in this next image, you can see the silver Corsa.
02:11Again, we've highlighted the middle of the carriageway.
02:14It's clear.
02:15The car has pulled up right next to the cyclist in the same lane.
02:18Now, let's play the close pass in slow motion.
02:21Given the car's position at the traffic lights, this outcome was almost inevitable,
02:25which is why the cyclist kept glancing to their right.
02:35This footage was uploaded to the West Yorkshire Police Safer Roads media submission portal
02:39on the very same day, August 11, 2024.
02:44An email acknowledging the submission was received that day.
02:47West Yorkshire Police responded on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, informing us that inquiries
02:53were ongoing to trace the driver to deal with the offences highlighted in the footage.
02:57These inquiries typically begin with issuing a Notice of Intended Prosecution, NIP, to the
03:02registered keeper.
03:04A NIP's purpose is to inform a potential defendant that they may be prosecuted for an offence while
03:09the incident is still fresh in their memory.
03:11You have 28 days from receiving their NIP to provide the name and address of who was
03:16driving the vehicle at the time of the alleged offence.
03:19It's crucial to be truthful.
03:21Providing details of someone else, when you were the driver, could lead to an offence of
03:26perverting the course of justice, which carries serious penalties like a prison sentence or
03:31substantial fine.
03:32Failing to comply with a NIP is also an offence itself.
03:36If you fail to provide the requested information, this carries six penalty points and a maximum
03:41£1,000 fine upon conviction.
03:43Data from Operation Snap, for July to September 2024, confirms the driver was dealt with.
03:50The offence was RT-88576, driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or public place
03:56without reasonable consideration, which falls under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
04:03A person is considered to have driven without reasonable consideration only if their driving
04:07inconveniences someone.
04:09Let's look at how the Highway Code applies here.
04:12Rule 170 covers the incident at the traffic lights.
04:15It tells drivers to take extra care at junctions and specifically states you should remain behind
04:20cyclists, horse riders, horse-drawn vehicles and motorcyclists at junctions, even if they're
04:26waiting to turn and positioned close to the curb.
04:29Rule 163 covers the closed pass itself.
04:32It advises drivers to overtake only when it's safe and legal.
04:37You should give motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles at least as
04:42much room as you would when overtaking a car.
04:46As a guide, leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds up to 30 miles
04:51per hour and even more at higher speeds.
04:54Critically, you should wait and not overtake if it is unsafe or impossible to meet these
04:59clearances.
05:00So what was the outcome for this driver?
05:02Operation Snap Data shows the driver was offered an educational course.
05:06These courses aim to educate drivers, change attitudes and prevent re-offending.
05:11You have 28 days from the date of the document to book and pay for the course and then 120
05:17days from the date of the offence to complete it.
05:20The police always retain the right to withdraw a course offer at any time until you've completed
05:24it.
05:25You also always have the option to accept a conditional offer of fixed penalty or have the
05:29matter heard in court.
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05:40on social media.
05:40That's all from this edition of West Yorkshire Cycling.
05:44Keep safe out there.
06:10Keep safe out there.
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