Officers from the Police’s Road Safety Unit have been on the Isle of Wight today (Tuesday) conducting a ‘Safe Pass’ operation to educate drivers around bicycle safety.
The Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police team visited a number of locations to identify drivers acting in an irresponsible way to vulnerable road users, specifically cyclists, as well as those committing other offences such as driving without a seatbelt – of which 9 people were caught today.
In a bid to identify and then educate those driving too close to cyclists, or overtaking at inappropriate times or speeds, a Police officer took to the roads on a pushbike armed with 2 Go Pro cameras. Once a driver had been identified, the vehicle was pulled into a nearby stop and given key words of advice.
Thanks to advances in technology, footage from the Go Pro cameras could be immediately downloaded enabling officers to demonstrate to the driver where they may their mistake.
Island Echo joined the Roads Policing team in Ryde where the vast majority of drivers were seen acting in a responsible manner – something also witnessed elsewhere on the Island, including in Lake and Shanklin.
PC Dave Hazlett has said of today’s operation:
“The majority of motorists are giving plenty of space and time, making a huge difference to the safety of cyclists and other vulnerable road users on all road types”.
Further safety and enforcement work will be taking place across the Island in the coming days.
It would help if uninsured cyclists also behaved in a responsible manner and respected the rules of the road, it’s not a one way street when it comes to the rules of the road…
What a numbskull comment. The article concerns close passing cyclists. How does an uninsured cyclist behaving in a responsible manner and respecting the rules of the road have any bearing on whether he is more or less likely to encounter a close pass? It’s aggressive and inconsiderate drivers that maim and on occasion kill cyclists. I suggest you go and educate yourself how to pass cyclists in a responsible manner then come back on here and tell us all how to do it.
You just don’t get it do you…..if you think cyclists don’t course problems and behave irisponsibly then you have a lot to learn..
Yeah your write i dont no wot I’m on about and I av a lot too lern. i best get sum insurance sorted and pay my rode tacks ‘cos it’ll stop cars and trains passing me really close.
pity they were not around in Ventnor when a car passed by me, that close, whilst cycling that their wing mirror whacked my elbow.
Shame the idiot who was overtaking a cyclist didn’t stop to think traffic was coming the other way when he overtook him on a blind bend !!!!!.
Luckily for me he just missed me ……
I can honestly say this is something that people do need educating in , patience is a virtue and I would rather be late than have an accident!!!!!!
make them pay to ride on the road . road tax insurance and a number plate cars motor bikes and even Beryl e-Scooters have to so why not cyclists
Dot, the article is about close passes, why bring up ‘road tax’ … by the way ‘road tax’ is actually a duty on emissions and as cyclists don’t produce any ……
Before they started checking emissions, there was road tax, so thats a lot of bull mate !!
Why don’t we just ban cyclists from main roads as they cause congestion and contribute nothing, and the police can spend more time on more important things? Problem solved.
‘Contribute nothing’, so, what you are saying is get everything off the road that does not contribute….just think about that for a moment.
I appreciate that ‘some’ motorists are not road courteous (and I mean to ANY other road users). However, whilst some may not understand the difficulties they may cause to cyclists by passing too close and at speed, hopefully this is NOT a majority of motorists.
This road ‘etiquette’, and understanding general road safety must also be expanded to include cyclists as well. Regrettably, many are far from ‘victims’ of bad car drivers. Riding on pavements, no regard for junctions, signage or traffic lights, some not even using the correct side of the road…
Please, please expand your campaign to include the education of cyclists as well.
Good to see that the police are taking action against poor driving standards. I am both a cyclist, and a motorist, so understand frustrations from both groups of road users. One thing I will say though, as a cyclist, is why do so many car drivers insist on overtaking, knowing full well they are about to turn left, resulting in them having to drive erratically to perform the manoeuvre? Not clever, does NOT save time and is quite frankly dangerous and nothing other than stupid! I am considering buying a Go Pro camera to catch idiots that do this to get them prosecuted for dangerous driving, which is exactly what it is.
An excellent point, the ‘overtake and immediate left turn’ is both dangerous and puzzling! do get a Gopro, I have one!
There are many more cyclists on the road now agreed.
Do they need to cycle in large groups three, four, five plus, often two abreast talking to each other or a bigger group all out together taking up large stretch of road where you have to overtake a couple at a time.
We do need more cycle ways but cyclists please be considerate to drivers too.
Don’t ride around in groups holding up traffic and then complain when drivers have to overtake you. The Island roads are not like the mainland they are often narrower with many hills and bends. Drivers cant wait behind you all indefinitely waiting for a LONG clear road.
Fully agree with Gorob. In addition why do a lot insist on cycling on sections of the main carriageway where perfectly good cycle tracks have been provided adjacent to it (paid for by all tax payers)? Make it compulsory for them to use such tracks where provided, such as between the crematorium roundabout and Newport.
Ivor, I suggest (and I’m being serious here) that you hire a bike and take a trip on some of the cycle tracks. They are poorly maintained, often strewn with sharp gravel, thorns, water filled holes, headphone wearing pedestrians etc making them difficult, if not dangerous to use… that is why many cyclists, legally, use the main road when apparently they ‘should’ use the track.
similar to the roads then…
Wish they would stop those on the small LOUD bikes and teach them how to ride.. and check their insurance… PLUS the two on pit bike look ali9kes with NO NUMBER PLATES, often seen and heard as very loud.. Well Street area
How about teaching cyclists to use cycle tracks