Dangerous Cycling Law Postponed Due to July General Election
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
An amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, put forward by former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, that was set to introduce the offense of “causing death by dangerous, careless or inconsiderate cycling,” will now not become law, following the announcement of the General Election on July 4th.
Given the timescales up to the Election, there isn’t enough time for the law to pass through the House of Lords. This is because the Criminal Justice Bill is contentious legislation and could have been challenged by the upper chamber.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper recently said that the proposed legislation in the Bill would ensure the “tiny minority” of reckless cyclists would face the “full weight of the law,” while protecting “law-abiding cyclists.”
However, the introduction of "dangerous cycling" laws soon looks increasingly likely, with Labour joining the Conservatives in committing to introduce stricter laws if they win the upcoming general election.
"Labour will change the law to protect people from dangerous cycling, and we commend the families for their relentless campaigning," a spokesperson from Labour told the Daily Telegraph.
Likewise, a Conservative spokesperson stressed that the party remains "committed to delivering a new offence of dangerous cycling, ensuring cyclists who ride dangerously are brought to justice".
The proposed changes, though, have been questioned by some who say they will do little to have any meaningful impact on road safety, the number of pedestrians injured or killed by cyclists far outweighed by the number injured or killed in collisions involving the drivers of cars.
Active Travel Commissioner Chris Boardman pointed out that more people are killed by lightning and cows each year than cyclists.
"It's important that we say that because there are three involving, not necessarily caused by, but three or less involving a bike rider," he explained. "And as the Secretary of State said, this is such a tiny minority. More people are killed by lightning, or cows. And that same thing - cycling- is joyous. It's good for society. And we put the focus on this minuscule, negative thing. Absolutely, everybody should obey the laws of the road. But is this really the best use of our time to be talking about this now?"
Road safety charity Brake called the attention and emphasis placed on cycling as "disproportionate".
"It feels that the focus being given to this announcement – by both government and the media – is disproportionate given the true extent of road casualties across the UK, and the lack of commitment from this government to address road safety at a strategic level," Brake's CEO Ross Moorlock said.
"If the aviation or rail industry had the safety record that roads do, planes would be grounded, and trains would be stopped.
"Given the government is so eager to act on dangerous cycling, we ask that they now continue this trend, by introducing further legislation that ensures that we see a significant and sustained reduction in road death and injury both this year and in the years to come."
The cause was championed by Duncan Smith following campaigning by Matthew Briggs, husband of Kim Briggs who was hit by a cyclist while she crossed a road in London in 2016. The cyclist—Charlie Alliston—was later imprisoned for 18 months but Briggs said a “gap in the law” meant it was impossible, in his case, to press for a charge of manslaughter.