Plain-clothed police are sent out on bikes with cameras to record unsuspecting motorists driving badly
- Plain-clothed officers use £500 cameras to catch out bad drivers in Somerset
- Police say it will be ‘sow the seeds’ of doubt in drivers so they take greater care
- Footage taken by cycling officers will be shared on social media, say police
Plain-clothed officers are being sent out on to some of Somerset’s most dangerous roads to catch unsuspected motorists driving badly.
With a third of accidents in Britain involve either a bicycle or motorbike, Avon and Somerset Police has organised a new way to clamp down on accidents.
According to The Mirror, police are mounting £500 cameras on their bikes to target hotspots for bad drivers.
Plain-clothed officers in Somerset will soon be getting on their bikes to catch out dangerous drivers. Officers hope ditching uniform will make them indistinguishable from regular cyclists, like those in Greenwich Park, above
Road safety officer Damien Devanny said: ‘It could be a police officer, it might not be. Or it might be a member of the public with a camera.
‘We are open and transparent about it, and share on social media, so we can change behaviour.’
Mr Devanny said the move would ‘sow the seeds’ of doubt in drivers to ensure they drive safely around cyclists.
The cameras are equipped to film ahead and behind the bikes, with the footage being uploaded to a secure site where it’s checked to see if driving warrants prosecution and a warning letter.
The websites are used by three quarters of police forces in England and Wales.
According to The Mirror, the number of incidents reported on the national dashcam safety portal doubled in the last year, rising from 5,000 to 10,000.
Around half of the reports ended with police taking action or a prosecution taking place
Bath University in Somerset conducted a study into motorists’ behaviour and found they were more likely to give a cyclists more room to cyclists marked in police jackets, according to The Mirror.
Last week ministers signalled that they are prepared to hand controversial powers to councils to enforce civil penalties for minor driving offences such as straying into cycle lanes or stopping in box junctions.
Enforcing the rules is currently the job of the police but they rarely take formal action over so-called moving traffic violations.
But to help councils fund and operate new cycle lanes and other traffic-reduction measures after the pandemic, Ministers are preparing to hand over legal powers of enforcement to local government officials.
It comes as the coronavirus crisis prompts plans for a dramatic expansion of cycling and walking to reduce the use of public transport in towns and cities.