'I've sent 1,300 pieces of footage to police'

A cyclist has sent 1,300 pieces of footage to police to help crack down on dangerous driving.

Over the past five years Guy Buckland, who travels from Winscombe to Bristol for work, has sent Avon and Somerset Police footage taken from cameras on his bicycle and helmet.

Mr Buckland said 90% of the clips were acted on by police, with the drivers sent warning letters, fixed penalties and, in one case, even sent to court.

In 2024, Avon and Somerset Police received more than 8,595 videos showing incidents on roads in the area. It led to 5,158 warning letters and 2,539 notices saying the drivers will be prosecuted.

"People have to realise the impact that bad driving has on peoples' lives and communities," said Mr Buckland.

Some of the footage he has sent police include instances where cars passed within 6in (15cm) of him, although he said this was quite rare.

"More typical are people pulling out without looking, people overtaking in the face of oncoming cars, the sort of general close passes, and occasionally mobile phone use."

Avon and Somerset Police said it is being sent more dashcam and helmetcam footage than ever before.

"I think that's due to just how more popular certain camera use is, particularly with dashcams in vehicles," said Ch Insp Rob Cheeseman from Avon and Somerset Police.

"So more potential offences are being identified by other road users, which are then being submitted to us."

Some of the footage sent to police captured incidents including a motorist on their phone and a driver experiencing road rage.

With the number of clips being sent in to police continuing to rise, Avon and Somerset Police said it is focusing on the most urgent cases first.

"It's certainly something which we've had to adapt to. It's certainly a more relatively new version of reporting crime to the police," said Ch Insp Cheeseman.

"The community is speaking really loudly that these are dangers on the road.

"The goal is not to be targeting drivers unnecessarily - the ultimate goal is making the roads safer for everyone in Avon and Somerset."

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