Drivers issued major Highway Code warning as new road safety crackdown targets motorists

Drivers have been warned to give cyclists and other vulnerable road users more space as part of a new road safety campaign.

Cambridgeshire County Council has launched the initiative to remind motorists about Highway Code Rule 163, which sets out the minimum safe overtaking distances for cyclists, pedestrians, horse riders and motorcyclists.

The campaign began last month and includes temporary signs on lampposts, electronic roadside messages, bus adverts and social media videos aimed at reducing dangerous "close passes".

A close pass happens when a driver overtakes a cyclist without leaving enough room, with the council warning that these incidents are one of the main reasons many people feel unsafe on local roads.

Under Highway Code Rule 163, drivers must leave at least 1.5 metres of space when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph. At higher speeds, motorists are expected to leave even more room.

The rule also states that drivers should give cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists as much space as they would when passing another car.

Pedestrians walking on roads without pavements must be given at least two metres of space, while drivers should slow down when passing.

Extra care is also needed around children, elderly people and groups of walkers where roads may be narrow, with the Highway Code advising motorists to wait until it is safe if there is not enough room to overtake properly.

Horse riders are another key focus of the campaign because horses can easily be frightened by vehicles passing too closely or too quickly.

Drivers are advised to slow to no more than 10mph when passing horses or horse-drawn vehicles and leave at least two metres of space.

The council said drivers should take even more care during bad weather, high winds and at night when visibility is lower.

The signs being tested across Cambridgeshire are expected to remain in place until September 2027 and could become permanent in other parts of England if the trial is successful.

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Passengers using Stagecoach and Whippet buses will also see campaign messages encouraging safer driving around cyclists.

Council vehicles are being fitted with stickers reminding motorists to "give 1.5m or more" when overtaking people on bikes.

Councillor Alex Beckett, chairman of the council's Highways and Transport Committee, said many residents still feel nervous about cycling because of drivers passing too closely.

He said: "Across Cambridgeshire, around half of us cycle, and it's easy to see why. It keeps us fit, saves money and takes cars off the road.

"But the data is clear: safety is the single biggest thing stopping more people from getting on a bike. Too many of us have experienced a vehicle passing too close, and that moment of fear matters."

Mr Beckett said the campaign was making a "simple ask" to drivers. "Leave a bit more space. It costs nothing and could make the difference between someone feeling safe on their bike or giving up on cycling altogether," he said.

The council hopes the campaign will encourage safer behaviour on the roads and help more people feel confident cycling across the county.