[ad_1]
A new offense of causing death or grievous bodily harm by dangerous, careless or reckless cycling is due to be introduced.
The law will be changed after a deal was reached between the government and the former Conservative leader, Ian Duncan Smithwhose amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill was supported by 37 Tory backbench peers.
Action to make it a crime to cause death by dangerous cycling is “urgent” and not “anti-cycling”, Duncan Smith told MPs on Wednesday, referring to the 2016 death of Kim Briggs.
She died in hospital a week after Charlie Alliston crashed into her in east London on his fixed-speed bicycle, which illegally had no front brake.
Alliston was convicted of causing bodily harm by “reckless and furious driving”, an offense under 19th-century legislation, but he was cleared of the more serious offense of manslaughter.
Duncan Smith was watched from the Commons public gallery by Matthew Briggs, Kim’s husband, who campaigned to change the law and accused the government of fearing a “militant cycling lobby”.
Duncan Smith said Matthew Briggs’ attempt to prosecute a cyclist involved a legal process that was so convoluted that the presiding judge has since said it was a “mockery” and that “the laws don’t cover what happened to his wife and it happens to many other people”.
He added: “It is not, as is often accused by people who say anything about it, counter-cyclical. Rather, it’s about making sure it happens in a safe and sensible way.
The government said it had agreed to introduce new laws so that those who kill or seriously injure people due to dangerous or careless cycling are punished the same as motorists and motorcyclists.
The Department of transport will table an updated amendment to the bill when it enters the House of Lords, where it will be further debated.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: “Most cyclists, like most drivers, are responsible and careful. But it is only right that the small minority who recklessly disregard others should face the full weight of the law for doing so.
“Just like motorists who flout the law, we support this legislation introducing new offenses around dangerous cycling. These new measures will help protect law-abiding cyclists, pedestrians and other road users while ensuring fairness.”
Labor did not commit to the bill, saying it needed to know more about the details of the provision and its potential impact, but shadow courts and punishments minister Jack Cunningham told MPs his party intended to legislate in the area if it came in power.
Cycling groups and some others reacted cautiously.
Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns at Cycling UK, said: “It’s clear that work needs to be done to make our streets safer for everyone, but by fumbling around the edges of reform we will be adding new offenses to existing laws for traffic on the roads that no longer work.
“What we need is what the government promised 10 years ago; in-depth review of traffic laws and penalties. Better road laws will help ensure our roads are safer for all communities. It is time for the Government to respond to our consistent call for a full review.
Brake, the road safety charity, has pressed the government to meet other road safety commitments.
Lucy Strucker, campaigns manager at Brake, said: “If the Government are willing to support Mr Duncan Smith’s legislative review as mentioned, then perhaps they would like to follow through on their commitment to publish a new road safety strategy – with which they committed to doing in 2021 – and which we are still waiting for in 2024.
“This will include ways to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on our roads (however they choose to travel) and help people find healthy and safe ways to travel.”
[ad_2]
