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Passing distance (West Midlands Police).jpgSouth Yorkshire Police says no to close-pass initiative – cites low number of cyclist fatalities in the region
South Yorkshire Police (SYP) says it will not be launching a version of the close-pass initiative run by West Midlands Police. Explaining its position, the force said that resources were “carefully deployed to target specific activity” and pointed to the low numbers of cycling fatalities in the region.
Campaign group Cycle Sheffield wrote to ask SYP whether it intended to run a ‘close pass’ initiative similar to that launched by West Midlands Police. The scheme involves a cycling officer reporting close-passing vehicles to colleagues further up the road so that the drivers can be pulled over for education or prosecution.
In a written response, SYP provided statistics from the Safer Roads Partnership detailing collisions involving cyclists in South Yorkshire. The figures show that there has been one fatality a year in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
The response then states:
“Clearly one death per year is one too many, however, deaths involving cyclists in South Yorkshire are no where near the levels that they are in the West Midlands or other parts of the country. Whilst it is clear that the scheme has been well received in the West Midlands and is a good approach to tackling a key priority, this needs to be balanced against priorities that are force specific. The main cohorts in relation to road deaths or serious injuries in South Yorkshire are centred on pedestrians and car users – drivers or passengers – where SYP have seen a continual rise over the past 2 years. That said, West Midlands Police are hosting a workshop in Birmingham on 13 January and officers from SYP are looking to attend.
“In addition to this, given the challenging demand that the police service is currently facing as a result of austerity, resources are carefully deployed to target specific activity. I understand South Yorkshire Police are not aware of any specific location (s) that is prominent for pedal cyclist Road Traffic Collisions. Neither, have any officers who are trained and equipped in the use of pedal cycles brought any concerns to the attention of Chief Inspector Suttenwood.”
The force goes on to say that: “Enforcement should probably be used as a last resort to improve road safety…”
This contrasts with the position of West Midlands Police. When launching its close-pass initiative, it argued: “The only way to change driver behaviour and concentrate minds on looking out for vulnerable road users and change driving habits is through enforcement, and the resulting fear of being prosecuted.”
SYP goes on to say that “… the most sensible solution would be to look at addressing the root causes of the problem – one of which is the layout of the roads. By creating segregated or shared cycle/pedestrian routes, improving lighting, awareness and signage, cyclists can use the roads with the confidence that they are safe to do.”
A number of infrastructure projects are then highlighted, which include cycle routes and crossings near Sheffield Ikea and toucan crossings in Barnsley.
The prospect of “some educational workshops in schools for future drivers and cyclists” also gets a mention.
The news also comes against a backdrop of declining attendance at Sheffield Cycle Forum, a regular meeting with the council focusing on the promotion of cycling.
According to correspondence tweeted by Sheffield cyclist Matt Turner, there was just one attendee at the September meeting, other than council representatives.
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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21 comments
TVL, that one was bad. How on earth could any officer of the law judge that to be in any way safe.
If I were you I'd be thinking of a complaint to your Police and Crime Commissioner.
Avon and Somerset have been talking to the West Midlands guys.
Email the commissioner, perhaps more people asking for it will help
pcc [at] avonandsomerset.police.uk
Perhaps everyone should email their respective police commissioners wherever they live.
Make it a new year's resolution to get them aware of it. Quote the stats - the costs of each collision - be tenacious - make it happen.
I'm constantly amazed that responses like this focus on planning infrastructure rather than driver training, especially in the Outdoor City. I ride for sport, not transport. I suffer a close pass or two on most rides. Some ignorant, some deliberate. Luckily I'm not dead yet. Infrastructure is hardly going to help. Cycle path through Strines? Come on...
Infrastructure is static, expensive and takes years to deploy and sadly only driven by statistics.
Training and awareness gives immediate impact and is portable and transferable.
Attitude needs to change, not just infrastructure. Disappointed.
used to live in Sheffield and even before resources became limited SYP would routinely oppose reductions in semi-urban area speed limits on the basis that they were unenforcable - meanwhile adjacent counties were being much more pro-active in reducing speed limits to make roads more pleasant places for vunerable users
quoting cyclist fatalities as a sole measure isn't really acceptable - not seen data for South Yorkshire trends but nationally cyclist fatalities are declining but serious injuries to cyclists are increasing year on year and these are often life changing injuries
not 100% sold on the west midlands iniative but hope the publicity surrounding it has made those drivers that do care think a bit more about safe passing - meanwhile South Yorks is a safe place to cycle - no problem
Because the Police shouldn't have to do anything about threats to kill, only actual murders, right?
Muppets!
“Enforcement should probably be used as a last resort to improve road safety…”
F..k me, what an incredibly shit-stupid thing to say!
South Yorkshire 2015 road casualty statistics [source]:
Each fatality costs the taxpayer £1.7 million. Surely enforcement isn't solely about safeguarding those pesky cyclists?
Maybe when 96 cyclists are killed in one go they'll do something......oh hang on....
It's SYP, history proves they will go the extra mile to victim blame
Cough - cough - "football stadium" - cough - cough...
cough- orgreave- cough- political interference-cough- more faked statements- cough- wrongful arrests - cough
I wonder if SYP have stopped to consider that the low fatality rate is because people are too scared to cycle in the first place?
Exactly this.
You may recall this story:
http://road.cc/content/news/211018-cyclists-south-far-less-likely-be-inj...
The study found that Rotherham in South Yorkshire had the highest accident rate at almost 198 per 1,000 cyclists — almost 20 per cent — although the researchers said that the figure could be skewed by “anomalously low” reports of the number of cyclists in the town.
(Although speaking as someone who grew up thereand still have family in the area, it may also be down to the obesity levels).
SYP goes on to say that “… the most sensible solution would be to look at addressing the root causes of the problem – one of which is the layout of the roads. By creating segregated or shared cycle/pedestrian routes, improving lighting, awareness and signage, cyclists can use the roads with the confidence that they are safe to do.”
The police clearly are as clueless about infrastructur improvements as they are about the value of, and actual duty that have to, enforce the law.
"shared cycle/pedestrian routes" ! Just the thing to get the inconvenience to the motorist out of te way.
Even if they had a clue about which infra works best, and to be fair, they do at least mention segregation, SY police are hardly the people to recognise that nothing short of a network of cycling routes is required ie. in town, you keep the motor traffic to the trunk roads - you filter all side/residential roads to create 'access only' for all motors. That's about it.
If they are serious about their suggestions for real cycling provision, then they should be questioned further on this.
'We have limited resources and have to prioritise' - fair enough. But wait...
'We need more cyclists to die before we prioritise dangerous anti-cyclist driving'. Nice. Fuck off and die yourselves.
Bad driving is bad driving. I'm guessing the ones disregarding the laws concerning behaviour around vulnerable road users are ignoring the laws concerning speed limits, phone use and drink driving.
It will take quite some time to get the perfect cycle infrastructure that they seem to be dreaming about, until then enforcement is the only thing that can be done.
I'm sure that we will get a few links to Youtube clips from the helmet cam cyclist of South Yorkshire over the next few days. I'm wondering if they have an easy reporting system for videos. If not they may be underestimating the levels of bad driving around cyclists.
Target setting and metrics have led to some "under reporting"of some crimes. Not that I'm suggesting that there is any massaging of statistics in this case.
Here you go this video is from Doncaster, South Yorkshire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7lUJx4aNnY
there is some of the very rare "cycling infrastructure" in it, though this is the first piece, about 4 miles into my ride, and over 10 miles to the only other bit which is a shared path! The description in the video is a good example of how seriously South Yorkshire Police take offences against cyclists. Obviously, this has not been recorded by the Police as a close pass, because in their view, and confirmed again by Inspector N Gaskell it was a safe pass!
If SYP say 'resources are carefully deployed' as a result of austerity why would they be looking to send officers down to Birmingham to the workshop when they have already stated they won't carry out any similar initiatives. Perhaps Cycle Sheffield should ask for an explanation on that point and how much the time and travel expenses will be for such a futile visit.
“Enforcement should probably be used as a last resort to improve road safety…”
Odd - enforcement, draconian enforcement, is probably the quickest way to improve road safety... Laissez faire helps nobody apart from the wrongdoers.
Yeah right, spend billions on segregated infrastructure, in the process convincing nearly everyone that it's unsafe to cycle elsewhere, or get drivers to respect cyclists by sufficient enforcement of the law. Driver behaviour is easily changeable, you just have to spend quite a small amount on enforcement, some of which is offset by fine income. If you don't think driver behaviour can be changed, consider the effects of serious enforcement of drink-drive laws from the 80s onward, the seatbelt law, and the introduction of speed cameras. I would argue that traffic law enforcement is by far the most cost-effective way to improve cycling conditions.
Basically they don't want to enforce the law or do something proactive themselves.
Im not sure what cycle infrastructure is like in South Yorks, but here in Suffolk, most of it is terrible and what little there is, is disconnected from the rest meaning long sections on the road. Personally I don't think that infra is the answer except in cities and big towns.
The worst drivers are often the ones who don't think they are bad drivers and so ignore any media campaign. The only way to reach those people is with law enforcement. Carrot and stick is the answer, and lately there has been too much carrot and not enough stick... or should that be taser?