GMP relaunch Close Pass initiative to educate drivers and protect cyclists

On Wednesday 17 May 2023 Greater Manchester Police relaunched the Operation Close Pass initiative to clampdown on those motorists not giving enough space when overtaking cyclists.

Between 1 March 2022 and 28 February 2023 there were 448 cycling-related road collisions involving injury throughout Greater Manchester.

Close Pass was originally launched by West Midlands Police in 2016 and was designed to proactively identify and educate drivers who pass too closely to cyclists.

GMP rolled out the initiative initially in 2017 after a number of trials across the City-region, with the aim to reduce collisions between vehicles and cyclists.

Officers from the Traffic Unit will cycle the roads of Greater Manchester in a bid to identify those drivers who fail to overtake them within the Highway Code’s recommended safe passing distance of 1.5 metres.

Once identified, a nearby police patrol will be called-in to intercept the driver and offer them on the spot education on how to safely overtake cyclists. Drivers who refuse the education will be charged with driving without due care and attention, which could result in the driver receiving a fine and points on their licence.

The cycling officers will use body worn cameras, along with cameras fixed to their pedal bikes, to capture any offences witnessed, including motorists using a mobile, failing to wear a seatbelt and any other offences committed whilst driving.

GMP Superintendent Gareth Parkin said: “It is really important that we keep getting the message out there to road users of how dangerous it can be and how vulnerable people on pedal cycles can feel when they are out on the roads.

“So you will be seeing more of these Close Pass operations across Greater Manchester, we are looking at hotspot locations, we will be reviewing our information and intelligence and also talking to local communities about where they would like to see these operations.

“Not only is Dame Sarah Storey throwing her support behind it but Transport for Greater Manchester have helped us launch this by providing us with the funding to purchase the pedal-bike, so our thanks go to them as well.

Active Travel Commissioner for Greater Manchester, Dame Sarah Storey said: "I am delighted to see the launch of Operation Close Pass by Greater Manchester Police. Reducing road danger is a key part of the work I am doing to ensure more people have the opportunity to choose to travel on foot or by bike.

“Currently, in excess of two thirds of people cite the danger posed by drivers as a reason for not being able to make their own short journeys on foot or by bike and close passes are one of the most frightening things you can experience whilst riding.

“This operation will play a key role in continuing to build on the work the police have been doing with Operation Avro and Operation Considerate and will pave the way for the next phase of the plan which I will be announcing on June 5th."