Updating Road Safety Laws for Cyclists

Between 2011 and 2016 there were 2,491 recorded collisions between cyclists and pedestrians that resulted in a pedestrian casualty, of which 20 were fatal and 546 resulted in serious injury.

The Government recently announced a consultation on plans to introduce new offences of causing death or serious injury while cycling. The aim of the proposals is to achieve consistency between cyclists and motorists with equal sentencing options where the outcome is death or serious injury.

The government is also proposing to extend new cycling offences to both the road and public places. Under current law cycling offences only apply to cycling on the road and pavement (apart from the offence of being unfit to ride through drink or drugs), however driving offences do extend to driving in public places such as car parks.

There are also proposed changes to the current offences of dangerous or careless cycling which currently apply to the road only.

The consultation runs until 5^th November 2018. You can find out more and respond to the consultation on the Gov.UK website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-plans-to-update-road-safety-laws-to-protect-cyclists-and-pedestrians