A 77-Year-Old Driver Prosecuted For Passing A Cyclist Too Closely Blasts ‘Appalling’ Court Decision

A businessman is furious at being left £4,500 out of pocket after he was prosecuted for passing a cyclist too closely.  

Wayne Humphreys, 77, was captured overtaking a cyclist on camera on a country road while driving his white Audi Q8 in Wales last year. The rider had recorded the incident on a GoPro camera and sent it to the police.

The cyclist, who has not been named, reported the footage to roads policing team GoSafe, a road casualty reduction partnership between councils and police.

Their Operation Snap web portal enables the public to upload video evidence which police will review to see if any offences have been committed.

The warehouse boss was contacted over the manoeuvre but refused to accept any wrongdoing and did not attend a course or pay a fixed penalty notice.

He was prosecuted at Cardiff Magistrates Court for driving without due care and attention, given four penalty points, and ordered to pay a fine of £1,887 on top of the court and solicitor costs.

Drivers are allegedly increasingly being targeted by cyclists who record their journeys via GoPro cameras and film unsuspecting motorists.

The number of Operation Snap reports is expected to rise under the new rules of the Highway Code, which gives cyclists higher priority.

In Humphreys’s opinion, the fine is absolutely appalling. I am 77 years of age and the last fine I had was 35 to 40 years ago for doing 34 miles per hour in a 30 zone. ‘Other than that I have never had a fine and I have had a licence for 60 years.’

Humphreys said he and his son measured the road in question in Bridgend, South Wales, and estimated the gap he left for the cyclist was sufficient and safe.

He said: ‘Taking into account the cyclist and his bike there would have still been at least four-foot space.

‘I find it absolutely incredible this has happened. I don’t know whether to appeal it or not. It will probably just cost me more money.

‘This has already cost me about £4,500 with the money for the court and the solicitor.

‘It doesn’t make sense to me.’

A GoSafe spokesman said: ‘GoSafe received footage of a white Audi overtaking a cyclist on Pant Hirwaun, Bridgend on Wednesday, 15th September 2021, without leaving enough space to perform the manoeuvre.

‘The driver, Wayne Humphreys, from Pontyclun, was contacted and offered a course. The What’s Driving Us course is offered to drivers/riders as an alternative to prosecution for the offence of driving without due care and attention.

‘Mr Humphreys failed to accept this course and later failed to comply with a fixed penalty notice. This resulted in him appearing in Cardiff Magistrates Court on 8th June 2022. He was found guilty of driving without due care and attention. He received 4 penalty points on his license, given a £1152 fine, £620 costs, and a £115 victim surcharge.