PSNI takes to the road in unmarked bikes | Newry city news

Police officers across Northern Ireland are taking to the roads on unmarked bicycles this month to raise awareness of cycling safety.

Chief Inspector Gary Busch explains: “During our close-pass operations, which were first monitored in 2017, plainclothes police officers on unmarked bicycles fitted with cameras will be supported by police motorcyclists to identify drivers who are not giving cyclists enough space when they pass.

“During our close-pass operation in June 2023, we stopped 103 vehicles that did not leave the accepted safe distance between their vehicle and a cyclist.

“Recognizing good driving standards, officers also spoke to 55 motorists and complimented them on road safety around cyclists.

“16 motorists received information and advice about bicycle safety.

“One motorist was arrested for overtaking a cyclist with his mobile phone.

“A minimum of 1.5 meters is the accepted safe distance that a motorist must allow between his vehicle and a cyclist on the roadway.

“Unfortunately, many drivers fall far short of this safety requirement.

“During the operation, the bicycle officers wear cameras on their helmets, which capture images of passing motorists.

“Where a driver has displayed potentially dangerous driving behavior or has failed to leave a safe or sufficient space when passing, officers are radioed ahead to uniformed motorcycle colleagues who stop the motorist and provide appropriate advice.

“While our primary focus at this early stage is on education, we will consider enforcement action where necessary and appropriate for the most serious examples, including the recently introduced careless driving penalty.

“Motorists will also have the opportunity to view the images of the bicycle officers, so that they can fully experience what ‘close passing’ is like from the cyclist’s perspective.

“However, I must also emphasize that police officers also have the task of observing the behavior of cyclists and intervening with cyclists who do not obey the traffic rules or where a cyclist may need to be more considerate of the environment around him.

He added: “Future plans for the initiative include offering training to cycling clubs and the limited supply of cameras to record incidents that can be shared with police.”

Chairman of Cycling Ulster, Tommy McCague, said: “We are delighted to be working with PSNI again to bring Operation Close Pass to our roads.

“It has been a great success and we believe this will be of great benefit to our road users.

“The operation focuses on safety and education for all road users, highlighting how we share space on our roads.

“We look forward to Operation Close Pass being rolled out across all districts, keeping our roads safer for everyone,” he added.

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Posted by NewryTimes News on June 24, 2024. Filed under Community. You can follow all responses to this post via RSS 2.0. You can leave a comment or trackback on this post