This close pass happened on Queens Road in Leicester, UK. I was preparing to overtake the parked cars ahead when the van driver decided to overtake me. There clearly wasn’t enough space and I am a vulnerable road user relative to him. I don’t expect he would have overtaken a horse and rider in the same manner.
As a result of my complaint 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
Queens Road
close pass
Careless and inconsiderate driving
cycling
cyclist
1.5m