MOTORISTS are being urged to give cyclists more room when overtaking with the launch of a new road safety campaign designed to eradicate ‘close pass’ drivers.

Road Safety GB North-East (RSGB NE) launched the campaign, in Stanley, yesterday with the help of the police and fire services. 

Cyclist casualties in the region peak in July, August and September, with around a third of all collisions involving bikes happening over the summer months. 

Paul Watson, chairman of RSGB NE, said: “During the summer, we see cyclist casualties increase, but the majority of collisions are preventable.

“If everyone was a little more cautious and alert, slowed down and gave each other space, a lot of accidents could be avoided.

“I don’t believe drivers knowingly put cyclists at risk, but perhaps they’re not looking for them, or maybe they are unaware of the dangers of close pass overtaking.”

Between 2012 and 2016 there were 3,044 cyclists reported as injured on North-East roads.  Actual numbers could be much higher as incidents resulting in slight injuries, or where no other vehicle was involved, are unlikely to be reported to police.

Cleveland and Durham Road Policing Unit has received a close pass safety mat from national cycling group Cycling UK, which it used to demonstrate to drivers the minimum space they should allow when overtaking bikes.

Motorists should leave at least 1.5m between their vehicle and the cyclist when overtaking at speeds less than 30mph, and this should be greater in poor weather conditions or when the car is travelling at speed.

Officers plan to take the mat to events across the North-East to demonstrate safe passing distance in the hope that ‘close pass’ incidents decrease.

  • Do you have any headcam footage of close passes? Email matt.westcott@nne.co.uk

Failing to look properly, by either the driver or the cyclist, is the most common cause of cycle-related collisions, accounting for three-quarters, and men aged between 35 and 44 are the most at-risk group.

Pedal cyclists only account for about one per cent of the total miles driven and ridden around the region, yet they make up eight per cent of road traffic casualties and 13 per cent of serious injuries.

Mr Watson said: “People overtaking too close to cyclists is a cause of a number of collisions, however, there may be numerous near misses that we know nothing about.”