Tougher punishments for dangerous cycling are set to be introduced in the UK, with incidents that cause injury or death to carry prison sentences of up to 14 years.
As it stands, cyclists in the UK who kill or seriously injure someone whilst riding can be jailed for a maximum of two years, under a 1861 law: 'wanton or furious driving'. However, if a new law passes through the House of Lords, they will soon face the same penalties as drivers, who can be given a maximum sentence of 14 years.
On 15 May, Ministers backed an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill that introduced three new offences: causing death by dangerous cycling; causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate cycling; and causing death by careless or inconsiderate cycling.
The new laws would require cyclists to make sure their bikes are "equipped and maintained" in a legal way, and would apply to pedal cycles, e-bikes, e-scooters and e-unicycles.
The amendment isn’t law quite yet. Before the law changes, it must be debated in the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the UK Parliament.
The amendment was put forward by Conservative party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who explained the reason for the amendment in the House of Commons.
“This is not, as is often accused by people who say anything about it, anti-cycling,” said Duncan Smith. “Quite the opposite, it’s about making sure this takes place in a safe and reasonable manner.”
He recalled a high-profile incident from 2016, in which a cyclist riding a fixed-gear bike without brakes killed a woman in London. Much to the outrage of the public at the time, Charlie Alliston was jailed for 18 months for ‘wanton or furious driving’ for killing Kim Briggs, but cleared of manslaughter.
Duncan Smith said the legal process highlighted a loophole in the law, saying that, “the presiding judge has said afterwards, since she's retired, that this made a mockery and therefore it needed to be addressed - that the laws do not cover what happened”
He concluded: “The amendment, I believe, will achieve equal accountability, just as drivers are held accountable for dangerous driving that results in death, cyclists I think should face similar consequences for reckless behaviour that leads to fatalities."
In a press release, Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the law was about policing a tiny minority of cyclists.
“Most cyclists, like most drivers, are responsible and considerate. But it’s only right that the tiny minority who recklessly disregard others face the full weight of the law for doing so,” he said.
“Just like car drivers who flout the law, we are backing this legislation introducing new offences around dangerous cycling. These new measures will help protect law-abiding cyclists, pedestrians and other road users, whilst ensuring justice is done.
“I would like to thank Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP for bringing forward this amendment, and to all the campaigners who have tirelessly highlighted this issue – this is in recognition of their efforts in particular.”
Some are questioning whether this is a priority issue. Speaking to the BBC this morning, Chris Boardman said: "I don't have a problem with this – I think everybody should obey the laws of the road – but there are more people killed by cows and lightning than by cyclists, so as the secretary of state has said, this is an incredibly small minority."
