Give Cycle Space

Our award-winning campaign, Give Cycle Space, runs parallel with other priority actions to improve road safety for everyone.  

Research shows that, of all the safe driving behaviours around people on bikes, drivers are least likely to leave the right amount of space when they overtake. 

In partnership with Police Scotland, our campaign aims to both increase awareness of the correct passing distance of 1.5 metres, and improve driver behaviour around people on bikes.

Through research and insight into our target audience, the current campaign shows someone cycling on the road from the viewpoint of a driver. Alongside the person on the bike is a scrapbook of images of their life and loved ones.

The message is clear: dangerous and careless driving around people on bikes is risking someone’s life and risking serious legal consequences.

We’re all people, travelling on the road and wanting to get home safely.

 

Campaign impact 

The campaign is measured by independent research.

Key results include:

  • 97% of drivers who’d seen the campaign agreed that it encouraged them to give cyclists 1.5m metres when passing
  • Drivers who recognised the campaign were twice as likely to identify the message of keeping people safe
  • 84% of drivers need to hear the core message of the campaign – either as a reminder or because they did not know it

RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims, strongly support the Give Cycle Space campaign. There is clearly still much to be done to make cycling safer and our members want to see an end to the completely unacceptable number of deaths and life changing injuries caused by dangerous and careless driving.

RoadPeace Charity for road crash victims

Partnership with Police Scotland

We work in partnership with Police Scotland who run Operation Close Pass, an initiative to educate drivers, across Scotland.

Share the campaign

You can access our stakeholder toolkit where you’ll find Give Cycle Space videos, graphics, and suggested content for social media, newsletters and internal communications. 

Give Cycle Space 2024 media release

Tips: how to drive safely around someone cycling

When driving, follow the Highway Code and always give at least 1.5 metres of space when driving at speeds of up to 30 mph– this will usually mean crossing into the other lane.

And remember to

  • Wait at a safe distance until you have space and visibility to pass safely.
  • When driving at speeds of more than 30mph, give more than 1.5 metres of space.
  • Don't overtake at blind corners or if there's oncoming traffic.
  • In towns and in slow-moving traffic, consider if there is any benefit to passing, especially if there are lights ahead.
  • Don’t feel pressure from the person in the car behind to pass before it’s safe.

Experiences of being close passed

According to the Near Miss Project a person cycling is likely to experience a “very scary” incident once every week, and being passed too closely by a vehicle is an everyday experience for people cycling.

For someone who regularly cycles, every year they can experience an event that is “so frightening that it alone makes them consider giving up cycling.”  

As a person who cycles and drives, I think about both when I make choices on the road. I believe Scotland’s roads would be a lot safer if all drivers had this perspective - especially if they knew how frightening it was when a car passes too closely.

Shgufta Anwar

Glasgow

Read Shgufta's story

Close passes have made me extra vigilant – more than I should be, as I feel like I need to be the eyes for the driver, as well as for me, to make sure I’m visible and stay safe.

Dylan McDonald

Edinburgh

Give Cycle Space: Dylan's story

It’s hard to single out one time when I have been really shaken by a near miss, as I reckon I am closely overtaken by a vehicle at least once a day. It never gets easier, sadly.

Derek Neilson

Aberdeen

Give Cycle Space: Derek's story

Priority actions for safer roads

Of course, a campaign on its own isn’t enough: we need urgent change including networks of dedicated cycle lanes and enforcement to reduce dangerous driving.

Find out more on the priority actions for road safety.

Bans and sentences

1 in 4 people are unaware that driving carelessly or dangerously around people cycling can lead to a driving ban or prison sentence

Traffic cameras

58% of people say that knowing a camera could capture their driving behaviour, would change their behaviour around people cycling

Risk of killing or seriously injuring other road users

62% of people say the risk of killing or seriously injuring someone would be most likely to ensure they drive safely around someone on a bike