Record number of cyclists send dangerous driving footage to the police

Richard Aucock, Contributor
Wed, 09 Jul 2025

Record numbers of cyclists are now submitting video evidence of dangerous driving to the police.

Submissions of footage showing poor driving have doubled from 7249 in 2021 to nearly 15,800 in 2024.

The Highway Code was updated in 2022, advising motorists to give cyclists at least 1.5 metres of space when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph. A larger gap is required at higher speeds.

1.5 metres is a little less than the width of a city car such as a Kia Picanto.

The data was revealed following a Freedom of Information request from road safety charity IAM RoadSmart. This asked 43 police forces in England and Wales how many pieces of video footage showing a close pass of a cyclist by a motorist were submitted as part of Operation Snap.

Avon and Somerset Police received the most submissions, with 3501 people sending in videos last year.

Of the forces that provided data, all of them said they had received videos from cyclists showing close passes.

The number of reports leading to a Notice of Intended Prosecution has also risen, growing from 38% in 2021 to 54% in 2024.

Worryingly, nearly 6 in 10 motorists polled in a survey weren’t aware of the correct distance to give cyclists, and 18% said just one metre of space was sufficient.

A third said they had witnessed other drivers performing what they would consider a close pass of a cyclist.

"It is small wonder that record numbers of cyclists are installing cameras and submitting footage of dangerous or careless drivers to the police," says IAM RoadSmart spokesperson Harriet Hernando.

"While it is heartening to see that prosecution rates have increased, it would be better if it didn’t reach that stage and motorists weren’t doing it in the first place."

Head of campaigns at Cycling UK, Duncan Dollimore, added that since the changes to the Highway Code in 2022, it has not seen the big safety impact it hoped for with the research revealing the reasons why.

"The majority of people who drive simply aren’t aware how much distance to give cyclists when overtaking. This is why it’s crucial to educate all road users of their responsibility to protect those most vulnerable."

According to the Department for Transport, cyclists are among the most vulnerable of road users per mile travelled. Between 2019 and 2023, most pedal cycle fatalities occurred in two-vehicle collisions involving a car.

Ask HJ

Can you overtake cyclists on double white lines?

A short way from my home is a hill approximately 2 miles in length. There are double white lines in the centre of the road. There are lots of cyclists on the road, mostly in groups and commonly at weekends. Given that I need to keep 2 metres away from cyclists, technically, I cannot overtake them because of the double white lines. As one would expect, obeying the law, long queues grow. Some people do overtake cyclists and cross the double white lines. So, if the road ahead is clear and I were to be caught crossing the white lines by a policeman, would they book me or hopefully use some common sense and not bother.

Rule 129 of the Highway Code states the following: Double white lines where the line nearer to you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less. The speed of the cyclists is the key point here, so if they are travelling at 10mph or less you would be allowed to overtake safely.

Answered by David Ross

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