A joint policing operation has been held in Blaby to stop and educate motorists on the dangers of close passing.
Members of Leicestershire Police’s Rural Policing Team in conjunction with the Safer Roads Team, the Roads Policing Unit, Mounted Volunteers and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service conducted ‘close passing’ checks in the villages of Huncote and Thurlaston in Blaby as part of proactive action to increase safety on the county’s rural roads.
The operation was attended by Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews who has pledged to provide more support to rural residents and businesses as part of his Police and Crime Plan priority to tackle Rural Crime.
New changes in the Highway Code to ensure safe passing around horses and cyclists took effect in January 2022. These require motorists to pass people riding horses or horse-drawn vehicles at speeds below 10mph and with at least two metres of space. Drivers must also wait behind the rider if it is not possible to meet these clearances.
For cyclists, motorists must leave at least 1.5metres distance when overtaking at speeds of up to 30mph and allow even more space when overtaking at higher speeds. They must also wait behind if it is not possible to meet these clearances.
During the police operation, any vehicle deemed to pass inappropriately was stopped further ahead on route while the driver was subjected to usual checks. If no further offences were identified and the pass was considered below the threshold, the driver was offered the opportunity to be educated by Hazard Express – a virtual reality training tool.
In the event further offences were identified, and the pass was deemed too severe or the driver refused voluntary education, the offending driver faced enforcement.
Mr Matthews said: “Close passing is a persistent issue in our rural communities and this action day was designed to increase the support we provide to cyclists and the equine community in tackling these concerns.
“The new rules have been in force just over a year but there are still too many drivers who are unaware of the implications or refuse to follow them anyway. I am pleased to see rural officers teaming up with their frontline colleagues and our rural partners to tackle the issue proactively and where necessary, take enforcement action against those who put the lives of people at risk.
“I am working hard to build confidence in policing across our rural communities. These operations are instigated by the conversations and concerns raised by residents and support a key area of my work which is prevention. I hope those drivers who willingly took up the offer of education will adjust their driving behaviour in future to help keep our roads safe.”
As part of the Commissioner’s Rural Policing priority, he has made clear to the force his expectations for officers to work more proactively and visibly in partnership with parish councils, community groups and volunteers to enhance the approach to crime prevention locally.
He has also asked the Chief Constable to develop innovative ways of mobilising the Mounted Volunteers Scheme to aid the fight against crime in rural Leicestershire and Rutland.
