According to new laws in Wales and England, cyclists who murder pedestrians might potentially spend the rest of their lives in prison.
Under amendments tabled on Thursday, the Crime and Policing Bill would align death by dangerous cycling with existing motoring laws, according to the Department for Transport (DfT).
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander plans to close a loophole in the current ‘archaic’ and ‘inadequate’ Victorian legislation, also known as the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
The legislation was created to address the dangers posed by the increasing use of horse-drawn carriages in the mid-19th century. Sentencing ranges from a fine to a maximum of two years in jail.
Campaigners have previously called for more stringent laws as the Victorian ruling was quite obviously not designed for the ‘superbikes’ of the 21st century but, instead, for primitive push bikes, horses and carriages.
But once the new law – led by the Transport Secretary – is ushered through Parliament cyclists who cause death or severe injury by unsafe cycling could face life or five years behind bars.
According to The Telegraph, riders who are found guilty of causing death or serious harm as a result of reckless or irresponsible riding might face up to five and two years in jail.
Grieving families of those killed by cyclists have welcomed the revisions to the legislation.
Matt Briggs who has led the campaign for over a decade after his wife Kim, 44, was killed by a careless teen rider in east London in 2016 as she crossed the road on her lunch break, said he was ‘delighted’ by the update.
Mr Briggs’ wife Kim was killed in east London in 2016 when she was hit by Charlie Alliston, who was imprisoned for 18 months in 2017.
The then 18-year-old was travelling at 18mph on an illegal Olympic-style bike with no front brakes when he crashed into 44-year-old Kim as she crossed the road on her lunch break.
Mr Briggs told The Telegraph: ‘I’m absolutely delighted that this Labour government has followed through with our calls for new legislation.
‘This isn’t just a victory for me and my family, it’s also a victory for all the families who have worked tirelessly through their unbearable tragedies to have these laws changed.’
Chris Boardman, a former Olympic cyclist and National Active Travel Commissioner, has countered that stricter regulations would discourage people from choosing bicycles over motor vehicles.
A Department for Transport spokesman told the publication: ‘Dangerous cycling is completely unacceptable, and the safety of our roads is a key priority for this Government.
‘The Government is proposing new offences and penalties for dangerous cycling, updating legislation that is over 160 years old, to ensure that the tiny minority who recklessly disregard others face the full force of the law.
‘These are being brought forward as part of the Crime and Policing Bill, and will be debated in due course.’
The Department for Transport has been contacted by MailOnline for comment.
It’s time to ensure that all cyclists are insured.
Cyclists have yielded injuries over the last couple of years, especially by electric-driven cycles that have become faster, but speed awareness and road sense have not.
Some of these cyclists are a law unto themselves and think they’re riding in the Tour de France.
Cyclists should never use the pavement because they come soaring past you and you don’t even know they’re there until they’re gone!
These cyclists believe they can get away with anything they like. The number of times I’ve almost been run over with these pests coming up behind me, and they’re so fast and silent, and I’m in a wheelchair.
They ride around like Gods on bikes with a ‘get out of my way’ mentality.
All bicycles and e-scooters should have liability insurance. I used to have a mobility scooter, but I also had liability insurance as well, but to be honest, if dangerous cycling is aligned with existing motoring laws then not a single cyclist is going to jail. Car drivers kill thousands and very few go to jail.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 