Under a proposed new rule for England, Scotland, and Wales, cyclists who kill pedestrians may face harsher punishments.
The proposal proposed by Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps will fix a loophole that now limits their jail time to two years.
He stated that it will “impress upon riders the actual damage they can wreak when combining speed with carelessness.”
14 years is the maximum punishment for causing death by reckless driving.
The maximum term for negligent driving resulting in death is five years.
In 2017, the government initiated an assessment to determine if cyclists require a similar offense to cause death by reckless driving. It followed a case in which a cyclist was convicted of “wanton or angry driving” in the 19th century.
“Level of comfort”
Since his wife Kim was killed by a cyclist in central London in 2016, Matthew Briggs has campaigned for a law that recognizes death and serious injury cycling offenses.
He stated, “It would enormously simplify the judicial system… and provide some solace to the bereaved family and gravely injured victims, as the law would not apply to them either.”
He expects that Mr. Shapps, should he remain in his position under a new prime minister or his successor, “would keep their word.”
Mr. Briggs continued, “It is uncommon, but it continues to occur, and it must be resolved.”
A biker was sentenced to one year in prison last month for causing the death of 79-year-old pedestrian Elizabeth Stone by striking her as she walked on a sidewalk.
A “selfish minority” of bikers, according to Mr. Shapps, believe they are “immune” to red lights.
This disrespect for traffic safety must be severely punished, he argued in the Daily Mail. The victims’ families have waited too long for this simple measure.
Ministers are reportedly seeking a “balance” to “promote cycling… while also protecting pedestrians from dangerous bike behavior.”
Under the idea, new legislation prohibiting unsafe cycling that causes death would be added to the Transport Bill that will be presented to Parliament in the fall.
The Department of Transport stated that it was “exploring improvements to make it easier to prosecute hazardous cyclists and offering more continuous and direct cycling routes in towns and cities that are physically isolated from pedestrian and auto traffic.”
