MOTORISTS who didn’t understand how much room they need to give when overtaking cyclists have learned about the dangers after being caught in a police operation.

Wiltshire Police, firefighters, Wiltshire Council and paramedics worked together at Trowbridge Fire Station on Wednesday to raise awareness of cycle safety and crack down on motorists who drive too close to cyclists, as part of Operation Close Pass.

The operation saw volunteer cyclists riding up and down Hilperton Road in a loop from the fire station roundabout to the one at the top of Elizabeth Way.

If cars were spotted closer than 1.5m from the cyclist when they overtook at 30mph, officers flagged them down and took them into the station for an education session.

Wiltshire Police’s road safety manager Simon Drewett said random cars also got spot checks on lights, brakes, steering and the drivers’ eyesight. People who drove too close to cyclists or were committing offences like speeding or driving while talking on a mobile phone, were stopped.

“We take this extremely seriously. Sadly, we have seen the tragic deaths of two cyclists on the roads of Wiltshire so far this year,” he said. One of those accidents happened in April, on the stretch of road used for Wednesday’s operation, while the other was in Bulkington in May.

“In addition, there have also been a worrying number of riders injured, some seriously. What is apparent is that other road users appear not to give the most vulnerable either enough space or time to use the roads in safety.

“Whilst Operation Close Pass has a number of aims, it is primarily about educating the motorist in safe passing distances, something that drivers often have difficulty in judging whilst sat behind the wheel.

“By taking the place of the rider, they can see for themselves just how much room is necessary in order to pass in a safe manner.”

A mat was placed on the ground, showing the distance the cyclist would be to the kerb and the 1.5m distance a car should give them when passing.

“From the enforcement side, we are always monitoring this and we hope to do several more days like these in Wiltshire this year,” said PC Drewett.

“Dozens of riders took part in a very successful event to raise awareness of this on Saturday when we had a stall in Trowbridge.”