Road safety awareness schemes
We're running a number of schemes to help reduce the number of accidents on roads. These schemes often involve us patrolling the roads using specialist vehicles and devices.
You can find out about these different schemes below.
Operation Tutelage (uninsured driving)
Operation Tutelage is a national policing initiative to reduce uninsured driving.
If a vehicle is seen on the road and checks on police systems and the motor insurance database show it is not insured, a letter is sent to the registered keeper encouraging them to insure the vehicle.
The letter encourages the registered keeper to identify if there's a problem with the insurance for the vehicle, and to put things right.
The penalty for the offence of driving a vehicle without insurance is a fixed penalty of £300 and six penalty points on your licence or, if the case goes to court, you could get an unlimited fine and be disqualified from driving.
If you believe you've received an Operation Tutelage letter in error.
- Contact your insurance company and check that a policy is in place.
- If your car was not driven on the day stated, email via the address on your Operation Tutelage letter with the words 'Vehicle not driven' in the subject line.
- If you no longer own the vehicle, check on the government website that you've provided the right information to any buyer and the DVLA when you sold it.
- Any changes to your personalised number plate need to be passed to your insurance company. There's more information on personalised number plates on gov.uk.
Operation Tramline (dangerous driving)
Operation Tramline is our heavy goods vehicle (HGV) national road safety project, run in partnership with National Highways.
We're using specialist HGV camera cabs to spot dangerous driving on the roads. The higher viewpoint in HGVs makes it easier for us to spot driving offences such as mobile phone use, seat belts not being used, and drivers not being in proper control of their vehicle.
Find out more about Operation Tramline.
Community Speedwatch (speeding)
Community Speedwatch is a national initiative in which we help local communities record the details of speeding vehicles using special devices.
People caught breaking the speed limit are written to about the risks of their dangerous driving.
Repeat offenders receive a visit from the local police and could face criminal prosecution.
Operation Close Pass (safety for cyclists and horse riders)
Operation Close Pass is designed to actively target motorists who ignore Highway Code rules on overtaking cyclists and horse riders.
The operation uses a plain-clothes police officer on a cycle (equipped with video camera) to look out for motorists who do not leave the required space when passing cyclists and horse riders.
If motorists are spotted not leaving the appropriate space then the police will intervene and take appropriate action.
Passing cyclists and horse-riders safely
The Highway Code says that you should give cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car.
If you're passing a cyclist, the minimum safe passing distance is:
- 1.5 metres for speeds of up to 30 miles per hour (mph)
- 2 metres for speeds of above 30mph
If you're passing a horse rider or horse-drawn vehicle, it's recommended that you:
- pass at no more than 10mph
- leave at least 2 metres
More safety advice for drivers
When driving near cyclists:
- Cyclists may ride in the centre of the lane if a road if is narrow or quiet, or if they're in busy traffic or at a road junction. Allow them to do so for their own safety and so they can be seen.
- Groups of cyclists may sometimes ride two abreast to help them be seen. Allow them to do so for their own safety and so they can be seen.
- Cyclists may need to swerve to avoid uneven road surfaces or obstacles such as wet and icy patches. Give them as much space as possible when passing them.
When driving near horse riders:
- On narrow parts of a road, horse riders may ride in the centre of the lane. Allow them to do so for their own safety and so they can be seen.
- Don't scare horses by sounding your horn, revving your engine or accelerating hard once you have overtaken them.
- Horse-riders may need to suddenly avoid obstacles such as bumps or wet and icy patches. Give them as much space as possible and drive slowly when passing them.
Find out more in the Highway Code for road users requiring extra care.