Transport Secretary Grant Schapps has announced that he intends to close a loophole in existing motoring law that means cyclists who kill or seriously injure pedestrians no longer have a maximum sentence of two years in prison.
Set to be enacted as part of the Transport Bill this autumn, the legislation will introduce a specific offence for dangerous cyclists, however, campaigners have said that such incidents are rare and only a fraction of those caused by dangerous drivers.
Schapps said: “We need the cycling equivalent of death by dangerous driving to close a gap in the law and impress on cyclists the real harm they can cause when speed is combined with lack of care.
“For example, traffic lights are there to regulate all traffic. But a selfish minority of cyclists appear to believe that they are somehow immune to red lights.
“We need to crack down on this disregard for road safety. Relatives of victims have waited too long for this straightforward measure.”
In 2016, Matthew Briggs lost his wife to a reckless cyclist and has been campaigning for the change ever since. He told the BBC’s Today programme: “For me, it’s never been about the degree of punishment… it’s been about the complication, the chaos and the hurt and the confusion that comes along with the fact that there are no (specific) laws which apply to cyclists.”
“It is rare, but it keeps happening. And it needs to be sorted. It is a very simple clarification, a tidying up of the law,” he noted.
Kim Briggs died after an 18-year-old on a bicycle, without working brakes, crashed into her. He was sentenced to just 18 months in prison as there was no law at that time which equated to causing death by dangerous driving. The government launched a review of existing legislation in 2017 to examine whether a cyclist’s equivalent was necessary.
Dr Ashok Sinha, Chief Executive of the London Cycling Campaign, said the change was sound in principle, but the number of deaths related to dangerous driving should remain the focus.
He said: “The greatest number of deaths and serious injuries to pedestrians and cyclists are caused by cars. We routinely see every single day law breaking by motorists – running red lights, turning corners at speed without any attention to pedestrians crossing.
“It’s fine to change the sentencing regime. But where is the commensurate effort being put into dangerous driving which kills, maims and destroys lives, routinely. I would like to see action taken to address that.”
About Carl Millar
Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.
Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.
With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.
Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535, or click here to send a confidential message.
