Suffolk Police: 50% rise in prosecutions for unsafe overtakes on cyclists
The Highway Code states drivers must leave at least 1.5 metres when passing, especially under 30mph.
Last updated 17th Jun 2025
Suffolk Police say prosecutions for motorists overtaking cyclists too closely have risen by nearly 50%, as part of wider efforts to tackle dangerous driving and improve safety for cyclists.
Inspector Gary Miller, from the Norfolk and Suffolk Roads and Armed Policing Team, believes the rise is linked to both changing habits and clearer guidelines.
“We’ve seen an increase certainly over the reporting period,” he said. “There’s a number of factors, clearer guidance in the Highway Code, more cyclists using cameras, and people understanding how to report what’s happened.”
In 2022, the Highway Code was updated to state that drivers must leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph. However, a recent national survey found that more than half of drivers are unaware of this fact.
Regular patrols and plain-clothes operations
Police in Suffolk say they’ve been carrying out regular close-pass operations throughout the summer months, often using plain-clothes officers on bicycles to spot dangerous overtakes.
“We usually do them about once a month,” said Inspector Miller. “They give us some good results, both educational and enforcement opportunities.”
Undercover officers cycle with body-worn cameras. If a driver passes too closely, they’re radioed ahead to uniformed officers who stop the vehicle. Depending on the evidence, drivers may face a warning, prosecution, or be educated in their mistakes.
“Sometimes we find the footage doesn’t show a clear offence, but we still send an educational letter reminding drivers what the Highway Code says,” said Miller.
Footage from cyclists on the rise
Nationally, a record 15,779 pieces of footage were submitted to police forces in England and Wales last year, more than double the amount sent in 2021.
Reports of drivers overtaking cyclists unsafely in Suffolk are up more than 165% since 2021.
Cyclists are regularly encouraged to send in footage of unsafe passes for review.
Police must receive a formal statement alongside the video, and then assess whether there’s enough evidence for a prosecution.
Inspector Miller added: “We have to assess the footage and apply our evidential tests, sometimes there’s enough to prosecute, sometimes we use it for education instead.”
The Two Wheel Campaign is also underway
Separately, Suffolk Police’s annual Two Wheel Campaign also continues, focusing on improving safety for all two-wheel users, including motorcyclists and cyclists. The campaign features a mix of engagement and enforcement activities throughout the county.
A spokesperson for the force described it as “an opportunity to raise awareness of key safety messages, target risk-taking behaviour and reduce collisions.”
As part of the campaign, police are asking all drivers to take extra care around more vulnerable road users.
Campaigners say that with 85 cyclists killed on UK roads last year, better education and awareness are vital alongside robust enforcement.