Transport Minister has today announced an urgent
review into cycle safety, following a series of high profile
incidents involving cyclists.
The review will look at whether a new offence equivalent to
causing death by careless or dangerous driving should be
introduced for cyclists, as well as wider improvements for
cycling road safety issues.
Transport Minister said:
Although the UK has some of the safest roads in the world, we are
always looking to make them safer.
It’s great that cycling has become so popular in recent years but
we need to make sure that our road safety rules keep pace with
this change.
We already have strict laws that ensure that drivers who put
people’s lives at risk are punished but, given recent cases, it
is only right for us to look at whether dangerous cyclists should
face the same consequences.
We’ve seen the devastation that reckless cycling and driving can
cause, and this review will help safeguard both Britain’s
cyclists and those who share the roads with them.
Since the government trebled spending on cycling between 2010 and
2017, there has been a huge increase in the number of cyclists on
our roads.
In 2015, 2 pedestrians were killed and 96 seriously injured after
being hit by a bicycle. Every year more than 100 cyclists are
killed and more than 3,000 seriously injured on British roads.
The review, which will seek to improve all elements of cycle
safety, will be in 2 phases.
The first phase will analyse the case for creating a new offence
equivalent to causing death or serious injury by careless or
dangerous driving to help protect both cyclists and pedestrians.
This will address a specific issue emerging from some of the most
distressing cases seen recently and will be informed by
independent legal advice. The conclusions from this phase are
expected to be reported in the New Year.
The second phase will be a wider consultation on road safety
issues relating to cycling. It will involve a range of road
safety and cycling organisations, as well as the general public
and will consider different ways in which safety can be further
improved between cyclists, pedestrians and motorists. It will
consider the rules of the road, public awareness, key safety
risks and the guidance and signage for all road users.
