A cyclist has suffered serious injuries after a crash in Bolton.

Officers from Greater Manchester Police’s traffic division were called to a busy roundabout in the town.

Police say the driver of white Mercedes passed too close to a cyclist and has been reported.

A GMP spokesperson said :”This resulted in serious injuries for the cyclist.“CCTV shows that no wide berth was given.”

The driver has been reported for driving without due care and attention.

Police have urged motorists to give other road users space.

 

The investigation comes shortly after Greater Manchester Police launched a new operation aimed a reducing the hundreds of cycling related crashes on the roads.

The Operation Close Pass initiative came after figures showed that between March last year and February this year there were 448 crashes involving an injury on a bike in Greater Manchester.

As part of this officers from the Traffic Unit will cycle on the streets to identify drivers who fail to keep to the safe passing distance of the Highway Code which is one and a half metres.

After they are identified a police patrol will be called in to intercept the driver and advice them about how to overtake in a safe manner.

Those who refused to do so will be charged with careless driving which would result in them being given a fine and points on their licence.

GMP Superintendent Gareth Parkin said: “It is really important that we keep getting the message out there to road users of how dangerous it can be and how vulnerable people on pedal cycles can feel when they are out on the roads.

“So you will be seeing more of these Close Pass operations across Greater Manchester, we are looking at hotspot locations, we will be reviewing our information and intelligence, and also talking to local communities about where they would like to see these operations.”