Police urge motorists to take care when passing cyclists and horses

Motorists have been urged to take more care when driving near horse riders and cyclists at a specially-staged police event.

Officers from Devon and Cornwall Police organised the event an Haldon Forest. Officers used a two-metre-close pass mat as a visual aid to help visitors understand how much room should be left when drivers pass a horse or bicycle. 

During 2024, there were 600 injury collisions across Devon and Cornwall - which included 56 tragically being killed. .

Roads Policing Sergeant Owen Messenger and colleagues from the force’s Roads Policing team were at Haldon Forest last week. 

Sgt Messenger said: “These type of events give us an opportunity to offer advice and show the public the distance needed to safely pass by a horse or cyclist. 

“Cyclists or horse riders may feel vulnerable when vehicles get too close, so we would ask drivers to please give them space and be patient. 

“Drivers should concentrate on their driving and should not use mobile phones or be distracted by anything such as loud music in the car. 

“They need to anticipate that cyclists may need to move out in the road to avoid potholes or drains or to be seen by oncoming traffic or vehicles waiting at junctions.

“Even if there is a cycle path or cycle lane, sometimes cyclists need to be on another part of the road to make a turn or to make themselves visible.

“The Highway Code recommends 1.5 metres as a safe distance for overtaking at speeds below 30mph and to give cyclists more space when overtaking at high speeds. 

“If you cannot allow the minimum distance, do not overtake. 

“Remember to give other road users plenty of room and check your mirrors and blind spots for cyclists.”

Cyclists are encouraged to check what is happening around them at all times and look well ahead for obstructions such as drains, potholes and parked vehicles, so they can avoid sudden swerving.

They should avoid using headphones and leave plenty of room when passing parked vehicles as doors could be opened into their path.

Riding too close to the kerb could be dangerous for cyclists; it is safer to ride in the middle of the lane if there is not enough room for a car to overtake. 

Operation Snap allows members of the public to submit dashcam or other footage of risky driving to Devon and Cornwall Police via the website www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/opsnap.

In 2024, Devon & Cornwall Police received a total of 6,575 submissions, of which 1,790 were submissions involving bicycles. 

In March this year, police received 685 submissions, of which 217 involved cyclists and six involved horses.

Throughout April, the force is supporting a national campaign highlighting the most common causes of serious and fatal road traffic collisions.