AN UNDERCOVER officer was subject to a verbal confrontation during a road safety initiative in the Forth Valley.

The incident happened when police were proactively educating unsafe motorists to give cyclists space.

Operation Close Pass took place over the weekend, October 7 and 8, and involved two plain clothes officers cycling on bikes with fitted recording equipment.

Police say a verbal confrontation took place on the first day when 10 vehicles were stopped.

Beyond that incident, there were four close passes, four aborted overtakes with one driver sounding the horn at one of the officers in the Callendar Road area of Falkirk.

The aim of the operation was to keep cyclists safe on the road by educating motorists who were found to be passing the unmarked cyclist too closely or unsafely.

On Sunday, five drivers were stopped following four close passes and and undertake – a warrant for an outstanding fine was also resolved as a result.

The drivers stopped were spoken to, at length, by uniform officers with a focus on education.

They were also show a visual representation of the passing distance required when overtaking a cyclist (pictured).

Sgt David Ross, of the Forth Valley's Road Policing Unit, said: "Keeping vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, safe is a priority for Forth Valley's Road Policing Unit and we continue to do so through a combination of educational activity and enforcement measures.

"It's vital that we continue to proactively intervene to keep all road users safe and that all drivers recognise the importance of giving cyclists space.

“However, be assured that we will take enforcement action wherever necessary."