This close pass happened on Granville Road in Leicester, UK. The driver tailgated me, which made moving into the secondary position feel unsafe, then they close-passed me even though there was enough space for them to give me 1.5m. They were so close that I did not have enough space to avoid the cracked and uneven road surface, which made me feel even more vulnerable than usual. All this just to get to the red light a few second before me. I don’t expect they would have overtaken a horse and rider in the same manner.
Drivers must treat people on bicycles the same as they would a horse and rider.
As a result of my report to the police, the driver was offered, and subsequently completed, a driver education course as an alternative to prosecution.
Rule 163 of the Highway Code: (abridged)
Give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders and horse drawn vehicles at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car (see Rules 211 to 215).
As a guide:
• leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds
• you should wait behind the motorcyclist, cyclist, horse rider, horse drawn vehicle or pedestrian and not overtake if it is unsafe or not possible to meet these clearances
Leicester UK
Granville Road
close pass
Careless and inconsiderate driving
cycling
cyclist
1.5m