IT happens every day on the roads: drivers passing cyclists without leaving a safe distance, and for the cyclists involved it can be frightening, dangerous and in some cases fatal. But now, thanks to a new operation by Edinburgh police, there is at least some chance that the drivers will be caught and forced to change their ways.

Operation Close Pass is based on an idea developed by West Midlands Police and will involve an unmarked police cyclist going out on to the roads. Motorists who pass the cyclist too closely will be pulled over and given advice on how to pass safely. If the scheme is judged a success, it could be introduced in the rest of Scotland.

Anyone who has ever cycled will welcome this news. The Highway Code recommends that, on approaching a cyclist, drivers should ensure the road ahead is clear and then overtake giving as much room as they would when passing a car. And yet cyclists report that cars frequently pass them on the same side of the road, sometimes doing 60mph or more.

Quite apart from the danger to cyclists, one of the problems with this behaviour is that it is putting people off cycling – and that is the last thing we need in Scotland. But, sadly, it also reflects an antagonistic relationship between some drivers and cyclists. Cyclists themselves can play a part in fixing this by ensuring they obey the Highway Code, particularly at red lights, but a major effort is also needed to re-educate drivers.

Operation Close Pass will help in this process, although the relationship with cyclists needs to form a more central part of the driving test. And it may be that consideration will have to be given to legislation requiring a minimum passing distance, as happens in many other European countries.

Getting more people cycling would also help because a cyclist who gets in his or her car is much more likely to be considerate when they come across another cyclist on the road. However, more cycling needs more investment: better roads, more cycle lanes, cheap bike schemes and hopefully one day a better relationship between cyclists and drivers.