Driver fined £300 for ‘careless’ close pass on group of cyclists
The driver was caught on camera as he squeezed past the riders near a traffic island
A driver has been fined £300 for a “careless” close pass on a group of cyclists.
Video footage has emerged of the moment the driver tried to overtake the riders as they approached a traffic island, forcing one of the cyclists to swerve out of the way.
The incident happened on June 26 and was caught on camera by one of the cyclists, who then submitted it to GoSafe, a road safety initiative in Wales, which then resulted in the motorist being charged with a driving offence.
On August 18, the driver appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded guilty to driving without due care, and was handed a £386 fine and given nine penalty points.
On the 18th August a motorist pleaded guilty to an offence of driving without due care and attention at Cardiff Magistrates Court where they received a fine of £386 & 9 penalty points. This footage was submitted to #GoSafe via #OperationSNAP. Read more: https://t.co/zykOTcYj4n pic.twitter.com/8KLSc4K2c0August 26, 2021
GoSafe partnership manager Teresa Ciano said: “We all have a part to play in keeping our roads safe for everyone. Careless close passes, like the one recorded in this incident, risks the safety of cyclists. The consequence of this careless incident reflects the seriousness of the offence. We all share the road and should be able to do so confidently. When approaching a cyclist, be patient and wait until you can overtake safely.”
The incident happened on the morning of June 26 on the A4054 Cardiff Road in Pontypridd, Wales.
Footage was submitted to GoSafe, a partnership responsible for reducing casualties on Welsh roads through the use of camera vans.
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GoSafe has also set up Operation Snap an initiative that encourages road users to submitted video footage of traffic offences, which are then investigated by police officers with the aim of securing convictions.
Earlier this week, Cycling Weekly reported on the case of a hit-and-run driver who was jailed for just over three years after hitting and killing a teenage cyclist.
Leo Meek, 22, of West Way, Moreton, hit 15-year-old Jack Jones while the cyclist was on his way to his aunt's house on the Wirral near Birkenhead, in Merseyside on April 26.
Meek fled the scene after hitting Jones at 25mph over the permitted speed limit, leaving Jones with fatal head and neck injuries.
The driver then travelled another two miles, before abandoning his friend's dad's car and getting a taxi home.
The judge in the case said: “The most likely explanation is [Meek] simply gave him little or no room as you were overtaking him.”
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Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
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