Cyclists are submitting video evidence of dangerous driving to police in unprecedented numbers, with reports more than doubling in three years.
New data has found that bike riders sent 7,249 pieces of footage to the police in 2021. This has spiked to 15,779 in 2024.
The surge comes as research reveals that 58 per cent of motorists remain unaware they must leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists, despite Highway Code changes introduced in 2022.
A Freedom of Information request by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart uncovered the dramatic increase in footage submissions through Operation Snap, the police initiative for reporting driving offences.
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Research found that drivers are unaware of key Highway Code rules regarding cyclists
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The findings have prompted the launch of a "No More Close Calls" campaign aimed at educating drivers about safe overtaking distances and reducing the intimidation and danger faced by cyclists on Britain's roads.
The number of forces reporting close passes increased from 14 in 2021 to 20 by 2024, although some have only recently implemented Operation Snap.
Avon and Somerset Police recorded the highest number of complaints, receiving 3,501 video submissions in 2024.
The data revealed that prosecution rates have also risen significantly, with the percentage of reports resulting in a Notice of Intended Prosecution increasing from 38 per cent in 2021 to 54 per cent in 2024.
Cyclists are sending footage of dangerous drivers to police forces at an increasing rate
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Bedfordshire Police achieved the highest prosecution rate at 90 per cent, followed closely by Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Cambridgeshire Constabulary. The initiative, first introduced in 2017, was not widely adopted by most police forces until 2021.
IAM RoadSmart active travel spokesperson Harriet Hernando said: "It is extremely concerning that more than half of motorists don't know how much space to give a cyclist when overtaking.
"Passing too closely to a cyclist can be intimidating and dangerous, especially if they need to move out to avoid a pothole."
"That's why we're launching No More Close Calls, a campaign to put an end to close passes."
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Department for Transport figures show 87 cyclists were killed in Great Britain in 2023, with 3,942 seriously injured and 10,970 slightly injured.
Most fatalities between 2019 and 2023 occurred in two-vehicle collisions involving cars.
The research indicates these dangers are deterring people from cycling, with 34 per cent avoiding bikes due to safety concerns and 15 per cent citing aggressive drivers.
A third of motorists report frequently witnessing close passes, whilst 17 per cent often see drivers overtaking cyclists on blind bends.
The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to include protections for the most vulnerable road users PADuncan Dollimore, Head of Campaigns at Cycling UK, said: "The majority of people who drive, simply aren't aware how much distance to give to people who cycle when overtaking.
"This is why it's crucial to educate all road users of their responsibility to protect those most vulnerable."
The Highway Code stipulates that drivers must allow at least 1.5 metres when passing cyclists at speeds up to 30mph, with greater distances required at higher speeds.
Almost one-fifth of British motorists incorrectly believe one metre is sufficient when passing other road users.
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