MERSEYSIDE'S police pommissioner has praised the launch of a road safety scheme designed to give cyclists better protection.

As part of the 'Operation Safe Pass' initiative drivers are educated on the minimum space needed when overtaking cyclists in order to ensure they can use the roads safely.

Created by Merseyside Road Safety Partnership's Safer Roads team, the operation was launched in Sefton and saw drivers who failed to give cyclists the minimum safe space pulled over by the police and given advice about the potential dangers of their driving.

During the three-hour operation, which took place on Derby Road, Crosby Road South and Lord Street in Southport, a total of 21 motorists were pulled over into nearby fire stations where an educational cycle mat was used to demonstrate the actual distance they should leave when overtaking a cyclist.

The 'close pass operation' was first developed by West Midlands Police in September last year and has been adopted by a number of other police forces and road safety partnerships.

Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy said: "Since 2010 Merseyside has witnessed an increase in the number of people killed or seriously injured on its roads.

"Cyclists are particularly vulnerable and that is why more needs to be done to better protect them and ensure other road users are considerate of their needs.

"This operation is designed to better educate drivers so they are aware of the space they need to allocate when passing cyclists, but it also carries with it a deterrent - those who continue to flout the law will be prosecuted.

"Our priority must be making the roads a safer place for all who use them and I hope we can reduce the need for enforcement action by increasing awareness and understanding among drivers through initiatives such as this."

Sergeant Ian McPhail who leads Merseyside Road Safety Partnership’s Safer Roads problem solving team said: "We are committed to protecting all road users and that means putting in place measures to better protect those who use the road who are particularly vulnerable, including cyclists.

"I want to get the message out 'pass safer, not closer.'"