Scotland's Road Safety Framework

Safe Road Use is a pillar of the Safe System which encourages all road users to be respectful and mindful for their own safety and that of others.

One way in which you can contribute to this is by giving sufficient room to all road users and if overtaking do so safely, no matter what their mode of travel.

Operation Close Pass

One initiative which highlights safe overtaking is Operation Close Pass. This initiative is ran by police forces across the UK, where unmarked officers use bicycles with cameras both on their handlebars and on the back of their bike. Drivers who pass the unmarked police officer too closely are then pulled over and educated on how much space a cyclist requires when being overtaken by a motorist. Drivers should give at least a car’s width, which is considered to be at least 1.5 metres, when passing someone on a bike. The police use a specially designed mat which illustrates this to those that fail to pass cyclist safely.

If you are stopped by the police committing a close pass offence, this can result in three points on your licence and £100 fine.

The initiative aims to ensure that cyclists are given sufficient space when passed by a motorist, and to make cyclists feel safer when travelling on our roads. Ensuring that cyclist (and other vulnerable road users) feel safe, can encourage more people to make active travel choices.

More information on the campaign is available on the below link:

https://www.cycling.scot/what-we-do/campaigns/give-cycle-space

How to Safely Overtake

When overtaking other road users, whether a cyclists, horse rider or a motorist, you should, as outlined in the Highway Code, make sure:

  • the road is sufficiently clear ahead
  • road users are not beginning to overtake you
  • there is a suitable gap in front of the road user you plan to overtake.

You should only overtake when it is safe and legal to do so.

Further information and advise on how to safely overtake another road users, can be found in the Highway Code:

Using the road – Overtaking (162 to 169) – THE HIGHWAY CODE (highwaycodeuk.co.uk)

The Department for Transport recently conducted a consultation on reviewing the Highway Code. If approved by UK Parliament, the changes will become part of The Highway Code at the end of January 2022.

One of the changes which enhance the safety of vulnerable road users is:

Rule 163 for drivers and riders: give motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders and horse drawn vehicles at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car . As a guide:

  • leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30 mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds
  • pass horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10 mph and allow at least 2 metres of space
  • allow at least 2 metres of space and keep to a low speed when passing a pedestrian who is walking in the road (for example, where there is no pavement)
  • take extra care and give more space when overtaking motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders, horse drawn vehicles and pedestrians in bad weather (including high winds) and at night
  • you should wait behind the motorcyclist, cyclist, horse rider, horse drawn vehicle or pedestrian and not overtake if it is unsafe or not possible to meet these clearances