Bicycles are the safest vehicles on the road.
Cars are the most dangerous vehicles on the road.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-road-user-risk-2022/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-road-user-risk-2022-data
This close pass happened on Knighton Lane East in Leicester, UK. It features one of the most badly designed and dangerous cycle lanes that I’ve ever come across, so I don’t use it. Also, bear in mind that according to rule 140 of the Highway Code I am not obliged to use cycle lanes or cycle tracks.
People on bicycles are vulnerable road users, on a par with horse riders. If in doubt, drive as if people on bicycles are horse riders.
If you wish to report a road traffic incident in Leicestershire, here is the link https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/rti/rti-beta-2.1/report-a-road-traffic-incident/
As a result of my complaint to the police, the driver was offered, and subsequently completed, a driver education course as an alternative to prosecution. They did this in their own time and at their own expense.
The best way to improve driving standards is for drivers to refresh their licence every five years, the same as HGV and forklift drivers.
Hierarchy of Vulnerable Road Users:
Pedestrians
Cyclists/Horse Riders/Horse Drawn Vehicles
Motorcyclists
Cars/Taxis
Vans/Minibuses
Large Goods/Passenger Vehicles
Rule 163 of the Highway Code: (abridged)
Give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders and horse drawn vehicles at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car (see Rules 211 to 215).
As a guide:
• leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds
• you should wait behind the motorcyclist, cyclist, horse rider, horse drawn vehicle or pedestrian and not overtake if it is unsafe or not possible to meet these clearances