Footage from a headcam shows a Range Rover driver coming just inches from smashing into a cyclist, and his actions have landed him with a hefty fine. Watch the incident unfold in the clip below:
Barry Field, 59, was issued with a fine for driving without due care and attention after he sped past a moving cyclist on a narrow road.
Advert
In the footage, the cyclist appears to wobble after the near miss - which could have ended much worse.
The incident took place on Oakley Wood Road in Bishops Tachbrook, Warwickshire, on 5 March last year.
The cyclist passed the video to Warwickshire Police’s Operation Snap team, who hunt down dangerous drivers using footage from everyday road users.
Field, of Warwick, denied driving without due and attention but was found guilty following a trial at Warwickshire Magistrates Court last week.
Advert
In addition to a £500 fine, he had three points slapped on his licence and was ordered to pay £620 court costs and a £50 victim surcharge.
The cyclist, who has not been named, said: “I know there are bad drivers and bad cyclists out there but all I want to be able to do is go for a ride and come back home safely to my family.
“His impatience could have killed me. Bad cycling mainly causes annoyance to people but bad driving results in five road user deaths a day.”
Advert
PC Ken Bratley said: “Fortunately the cyclist was not injured and on reviewing the footage there is no doubt that this was an extremely careless pass.
“Cyclists are much more vulnerable than drivers in cars and that’s why the Highway Code has been updated asking drivers to give cyclists more care and attention.
“This includes waiting behind a cyclist until it is safe to pass them and leaving at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds.
"It’s really important that drivers understand their responsibility to look after more vulnerable road users such as cyclists, horse riders and pedestrians by slowing down and giving them extra space.”
Advert
In a similar incident, which also happened last year, a motorist was fined for causing a cyclist to fall from their bike, even though no contact was actually made.
Paul Nigel Miley, 52, received a £1,008 fine for driving without due care or attention, after helmet camera footage captured the incident in Ashby St Ledger, Northamptonshire.
In the clip, recorded in June last year, three cyclists can be seen riding along a single track lane when Miley drives past in his Land Rover Defender.
Advert
One rider shows at Miley to ‘Slow down you ****’, before the camera pans round to show another female cyclist falling off her bike and toppling into a ditch.
After the video was submitted to Northamptonshire Police, the force said ‘proved beyond doubt’ that Miley had shown no consideration for other road users.
Topics: UK News
Anish Vij