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Christmas comes early for English police as Cycling UK hand out VR headsets for close pass operations

Who doesn't like a new gadget to play with at this time of year?...

Virtual reality (VR) headsets have been handed out to 11 police forces in time for Christmas. Officers involved in close pass operations in those areas will now be able to carry out roadside education of drivers using a close pass film produced by Cycling UK.

Earlier this year, Cycling UK raised over £17,000 for the Oculus Go headsets via a crowdfunding campaign. The charity needed £15,000 to supply one to all 45 police forces operating in the UK.

The educational film that accompanies them allows drivers to experience what it’s like to be closely passed by a car from a cyclist’s perspective. It then explains how to overtake cyclists safely. The extra funding will go towards ensuring the film seen as widely as possible.

The 11 forces that have been sent headsets are:

  • Nottinghamshire
  • Suffolk & Norfolk (joint operations)
  • North Yorkshire
  • Cleveland & Durham (joint operations)
  • Merseyside
  • Avon & Somerset
  • Hampshire
  • Sussex
  • West Midlands

The remaining 34 forces will received their headsets in the New Year.

The film was trialled by West Midlands Police in October. One woman who was pulled over, who did not wish to give her name, said after her instruction: "That's changed my perspective – I'd never have thought to give cyclists that much room before."

One of the first to make use of the VR headset was PC Steve Hudson, of West Midlands Police Road Harm Reduction Team.

He said: “At West Midlands Police RHRT, we’ve long seen the benefit of using VR film to help educate road users. Using Cycling UK’s new film on how to overtake cyclists safely we’re looking forward to helping more people understand not just how to overtake cyclists safely, but also why it’s so important.”

Keir Gallagher, Cycling UK’s Campaigns Officer said: “It’s the time for giving, so I’m glad we’ve helped Christmas come a little early for 11 forces. The support from the police and public has been really encouraging, and Cycling UK is keen get the rest of the headsets out to all our forces in the New Year.

“Cycling UK knows most people don’t deliberately set out to intimidate another road user when driving, but unless you cycle, you’re unlikely to realise how dangerous close passing can be. This film will allow those drivers to experience the threat from safety and will make our roads safer for everyone.”

Cycling UK has been campaigning for changes to Highway Code rules for many years. In October, the Government said that it would make changes to highlight the danger of motorists overtaking cyclists too closely.

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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9 comments

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Pilot Pete | 5 years ago
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You can watch the video here https://www.cyclinguk.org/press-release/christmas-comes-early-english-po... but it doesn’t really work without a VR headset I guess as it just looks weird to me...

Avatar
CygnusX1 replied to Pilot Pete | 5 years ago
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Pilot Pete wrote:

You can watch the video here https://www.cyclinguk.org/press-release/christmas-comes-early-english-po... but it doesn’t really work without a VR headset I guess as it just looks weird to me...

Its in 360 so you can use the arrows in top left on Youtube to change your perspective,but obviously not as "immersive" as an Occulus Rift (or whatever VR heasdset they are using).

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spacedyemeerkat replied to Pilot Pete | 5 years ago
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Pilot Pete wrote:

You can watch the video here https://www.cyclinguk.org/press-release/christmas-comes-early-english-po... but it doesn’t really work without a VR headset I guess as it just looks weird to me...

What I find interesting in that video is that the demonstration of the safe pass appears to see the car accelerate to 35 mph on what I imagine is a 30 mph road.

I think if you're going to publish a video like that, probably for the best if it follows the law across the board.

That aside, good effort from Cycling UK.

Avatar
giff77 replied to spacedyemeerkat | 5 years ago
1 like

spacedyemeerkat wrote:

Pilot Pete wrote:

You can watch the video here https://www.cyclinguk.org/press-release/christmas-comes-early-english-po... but it doesn’t really work without a VR headset I guess as it just looks weird to me...

What I find interesting in that video is that the demonstration of the safe pass appears to see the car accelerate to 35 mph on what I imagine is a 30 mph road.

I think if you're going to publish a video like that, probably for the best if it follows the law across the board.

That aside, good effort from Cycling UK.

To be fair I experience very few motorists passing me at the speed limit in urban areas.  Most actually tend to drive at around 35 in most cases. At least that’s my observation. I once was pulled in as the police were suspicious that I was sitting bang on 30!  It’s probably a good pointer for the police to highlight that you pass another vehicle while keeping within the shown. 

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hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
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Just received my VR kit from them the other day (Kickstarter reward) - must remember to to actually try it out.

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Spangly Shiny | 5 years ago
2 likes

I thought I was going to see the film described in the article rather than a kickstarter advert.

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burtthebike | 5 years ago
5 likes

Well done CUK, but this shows how the government views cycling.  Billions and more billions spent on roads and vanity schemes like HS2, but anything to do with making cyclists safe has to be crowdfunded by a charity.  Just the same as expecting another charity, Sustrans, to build the NCN on peanuts and donations.

While I try not to get political on this site, this kind of sums up what I think about this government's whole approach; it would be a great day when tory MPs care as much about the homeless man who died last night in an underpass near parliament as they did about Corbyn muttering something no-one heard.

Avatar
Pushing50 replied to burtthebike | 5 years ago
1 like

burtthebike wrote:

 

While I try not to get political on this site, 

 Maybe try harder in the New Year Burt.

Avatar
burtthebike replied to Pushing50 | 5 years ago
1 like

Pushing50 wrote:

burtthebike wrote:

 

While I try not to get political on this site, 

 Maybe try harder in the New Year Burt.

Yeah, I might.  But then again, with this complete shit storm of a so-called government, I might not.  As I've said before, in all my 67 years, I've never seen such utter hypocrisy, arrogance and complete lack of humanity as this shower.  But I don't want to get political and I'm sure they're really nice people.  Like Hitler and Goebells were.

Tell me, do you think the dead man was more or less worthy of our politicians' time than a muttered comment which no-one even heard?

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