A CALL has been made for tell-tale footage to be submitted showing drivers putting cyclists at risk.

As more cyclists take to the road during the coronavirus pandemic, those involved in serious or fatal collisions increased by 11-per cent, with figures at a four-year high.

There is concern that the darker winter months will see a spike in cyclists being put at risk due to cars driving by at high speed.

Northumbria Police is urging members of the public to upload footage through its website in a bid to reduce the number of cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders endangered by drivers.

The plea comes as the force throws its support behind Brake’s annual Road Safety Week, launched across the country today.

Chief Inspector Sam Rennison, who heads the force road safety department, said action will be taken if submitted footage shows dangerous or careless driving.

“Modern technology means drivers no longer need to be caught red-handed by the police at the scene of a crime to be prosecuted,” said Chief Insp Rennison.

“As it stands, 77-per cent of the footage submitted results in positive action being taken, whether that be a warning or a prosecution.

“But we still don’t see a large number of submissions from vulnerable road users and this week we want to appeal to cyclists to submit more footage.

“A minority of motorists do not show the required respect to other road users and that needs to change.

“Too many vulnerable road users are seriously injured or killed because they have been knocked down by someone driving dangerously.

“We’ve been very good at socially distancing, giving two metres space in the community, and now we need to apply that logic to the roads.”

Between September 2019 and this August there were 336 incidents involving cyclists in the force area with 80 of those leading to serious or fatal injuries, an 11-per cent increase in serious or fatal injuries compared to same period between 2018 and 2019, and the highest figure in the last four years.

“We are not trying to demonise all motorists but the reality is when a driver behaves in a dangerous manner it puts people’s lives at risk.

“There are occasions when cyclists behave irresponsibly on the roads but those actions seldom result in a serious collision or a death.”

Anyone who wants to submit footage to police can do so by visiting the Northumbria Police website and clicking on: ‘Report and Incident’.