TVP increasing enforcement on driving standards, says PCC
Matthew Barber says it shouldn’t be “cyclist versus drivers” on the roads
Last updated 18th Jun 2025
The Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner says “we're looking at increasing enforcement” on driving standards, while there’s an increased number of complaints of drivers overtaking cyclists too closely.
The Department for Transport report 87 cyclists have been killed and nearly 11,000 injured on UK roads in 2023, with the most fatal crashes often involving a car and occur during overtaking manoeuvres.
According to a new Freedom of Information request, police forces across the country are dealing with an increased number of complaints.
It shows that 15,779 video submissions have been made to police in 2024, which is more than double compared to 7,249 in 2021.
Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley says the Thames Valley region has also seen an increase of complaints.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio, he said: “We're looking at increasing enforcement by Thames Valley Police on driving standards, as well as some of the obvious issues around speeding, drink and drugs and use of mobile phones.
“It's much harder to enforce because we need to have police officers out there on the roads observing that poor driving, but we have seen an increase in submissions to the police of dash-cam and helmet-cam footage.
“Where that footage meets the threshold to take a case forward then the police certainly will do so.”
Mr Barber also says, “the debate about cycling can become a cyclist versus drivers – it shouldn’t be about that”.
He added: “Ultimately, we all want to use the roads safely and of course, we've all got responsibility as drivers and riders to use the roads appropriately.
“So of course, if you're passing someone in a car, you ought to be giving them a safe distance in exactly the same way that the cyclists need to follow the Highway Code themselves.”
Research from road safety charity IAM RoadSmart yesterday revealed more than half of UK motorists admit they don’t know how much space to give when overtaking cyclists.
58% of drivers are unaware of the Highway Code rule requiring them to leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds up to 30mph.
The charity says this figure is ‘part of a worrying trend that highlights growing tension and risk between drivers and vulnerable road users’.