Police force sparks backlash after warning drivers not to be ‘space invaders’ in cyclists row

Police force sparks backlash after warning drivers not to be ‘space invaders’ in cyclists row
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Aden-Jay Wood

By Aden-Jay Wood


Published: 08/08/2022

- 10:01

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:46

Hampshire Police’s Road and Policing Unit also urged motorists to show “consideration” to cyclists

A police force has sparked backlash after calling on drivers not to be “space invaders” and urging motorists to show “consideration” to cyclists.

In a tweet, Hampshire Police’s Road and Policing Unit posted a video which showed several road incidents involving cyclists and vehicles.


Alongside the video, the force wrote: “Don’t be a Space Invader.

“Do you show enough consideration for vulnerable road users?

The tweet from Hampshire Roads Policing Unit
The tweet from Hampshire Roads Policing Unit
Twitter

“These drivers were caught on cycle cameras putting riders at risk and faced formal action due to their lack of care.

“We can’t be everywhere but we can be anywhere.”

But while some agreed with the decisions, others hit back at the video and comments.

One person replied: “Cyclists - Red light jumping Riding on Pavements Using mobile phones. Think they're above the law.”

The police replied, saying: “Next you will be asking why cyclists don't pay road tax.

“Sure, a minority of cyclists do bad things, but these were just innocent people going about their business being put in danger.”

While another added: “And what about the cyclist failure to check behind before moving to the middle of the road, failure to signal for said manoeuvre, and failure to signal while taking the right hand fork in the road?”

The police responded, saying: 'A few things wrong with this comment that I would like to address but I think that the cycling community could say it far better than me so I will leave it to them.”

Embargoed to 0001 Saturday January 29 File photo dated 25/01/22 of traffic passing a cycle lane as a major revamp of the Highway Code to boost protection for cyclists and pedestrians comes into force on Saturday amid concern that millions of drivers are unaware of the changes. Issue date: Saturday January 29, 2022.
Drivers have been urged not to be "space invaders"
Jacob King

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