A businessman is furious at being left £4,500 out of pocket after he was prosecuted for passing a cyclist too closely when the rider recorded the incident on a GoPro camera and sent it to police.
Wayne Humphreys was 77 when he overtook a cyclist using a GoPro camera while driving in Wales his Audi Q8.
The cyclist, who has not been named, reported the footage to roads policing team GoSafe, a road casualty reduction partnership between councils and police.
Operation Snap allows you to upload your video to the web portal. Police will then review it to find out if any offenses were committed.
Although the warehouse manager was approached about the incident, he refused to admit any wrongdoing. He also declined to attend training or pay a 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 court and solicitor costs.
Wayne Humphreys (77), was caught on GoPro cameras overtaking a cyclist while driving his Audi Q8 in Wales.
A cyclist reported the accident to GoSafe (roads policing team), which encourages safe driving and legal driving.
Humphreys stated that the penalty is ‘absolutely appalling. My age is 77 and I was fined 35-40 years ago for driving 34 miles an hour within a 30-zone.
“Aside from that, I have not been fined and have held a license for over 60 years.”
Humphreys stated that he measured Bridgend Road, South Wales with his son and determined the safe distance he had left for the cyclist.
He stated, “Taking into consideration the cyclist and his bicycle there would still have been at most four feet space.
It is incredible that such an event has occurred, he said. It is unclear whether I will appeal. This will most likely cost me even more.
‘This has already cost me about £4,500 with the money for the court and the solicitor.
It doesn’t make any sense to me.
GoSafe spokesperson said that GoSafe had received video footage showing a white Audi passing a bicycle on Pant Hirwaun in Bridgend, on Wednesday 15 September 2021. Unfortunately, there was not enough room for the maneuver to be performed.
“We reached Wayne Humphreys from Pontyclun and provided a driver training course. Drivers/riders are offered the What’s Driving Us program as an alternative to being prosecuted for driving without due care or attention.
Mr Humphreys did not accept the course and failed to pay a fixed penalty. On 8th June 2022, he appeared before Cardiff Magistrates Court. He was found guilty for driving with no due care or attention. He received 4 penalty points on his license, given a £1152 fine, £620 costs, and a £115 victim surcharge.
Humphreys was prosecuted at Cardiff Magistrates Court for driving without due care and attention, given four penalty points, and ordered to pay £1,887 in a fine alongside the court and solicitor costs
Op Snap is a regular source of similar submissions from GoSafe. GoSafe has also worked closely with cyclist groups and drivers to establish Operation Close Pass. It aims to help both motorists and bicyclists stay on the road safely. It is important to slow down when passing cyclists. Also, it’s important to always keep 1.5m between you and the cyclist.
“Despite all this, GoSafe still receives Op Snap submissions regarding close-pass incidents. These submissions have been taken seriously, and we are continuing to strive for safer roads.
You can send information to GoSafe about any close passing incident or suspected road traffic violation, as well as supporting footage using Operation Snap.