Transport secretary Grant Shapps has pledged to create a “death by dangerous cycling” legislation that may deal with killer cyclists the identical as motorists.
Mr Shapps stated the legislation was wanted to “impress on cyclists the real harm they can cause when speed is combined with lack of care”.
The transfer will shut a authorized loophole which suggests cyclists who kill pedestrians can solely be jailed for 2 years.
It comes 4 years after the federal government ran a session on proposals for brand new offences of inflicting demise or severe damage whereas biking.
Mr Shapps wrote within the Mail+ {that a} “selfish minority” of cyclists consider they’re “immune” to purple lights.
“We need the cycling equivalent of death by dangerous driving to close a gap in the law and impress on cyclists the real harm they can cause when speed is combined with lack of care,” he stated.
“For example, traffic lights are there to regulate all traffic.
“But a selfish minority of cyclists appear to believe that they are somehow immune to red lights.
“We need to crack down on this disregard for road safety. Relatives of victims have waited too long for this straightforward measure.”
Mother of two Kim Briggs was mowed down by bicycle owner Charlie Alliston whereas on her lunch break in east London and died of her accidents per week later
(Metropolitan Police/PA Wire)
Under Mr Shapps’ proposal, the brand new legislation could be added to the Transport Bill as a result of be put earlier than parliament within the autumn.
Ministers have been beneath stress to usher in harsher penalties following the demise of Kim Briggs in February 2016.
While crossing Old Street in east London, she was hit and killed by 18-year-old Charlie Alliston, who was illegally using a fixed-wheel bike with no entrance brakes and travelling at 18mph.
Because there’s presently no speficic laws for biking demise offences, Alliston was jailed for 18 months beneath the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act of inflicting bodily hurt to Ms Briggs by wanton or livid driving.
The archaic legislation is meant to cowl offences with horse-drawn carriages.
Matthew Briggs has been campaigning for a change within the legislation since his spouse’s demise.
Additional reporting by Press Association
