Cyclists who kill pedestrians face tough jail terms

Cyclists involved in crashes that kill pedestrians are to be treated as if they had been driving a car, meaning they could be jailed for up to 14 years. Ministers are considering plans as an urgent review is announced into safety following a series of high-profile incidents involving cyclists.

CYCLISTS involved in crashes that kill pedestrians are to be treated as if they had been driving a car, under plans being considered by ministers.

This could see them facing prison sentences of up to 14 years, seven times more than the law currently allows. Jesse Norman, the Transport Minister, will today announce an urgent review into safety following a series of high profile incidents involving cyclists.

It comes after the widower of a woman killed by a cyclist called for a change in the law. The review will look at whether an offence equivalent to causing death by careless or dangerous driving should be introduced, as well as wider cycling road safety issues.

A cyclist can be prosecuted for wanton and furious driving if they harm another person, but the maximum penalty is two years in jail. The maximum term for someone found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving in a car is 14 years. The Road Traffic Act 1991 created cycling offences parallel to those of careless and dangerous driving with maximum fines of £1,000 for careless cycling and £2,500 for dangerous cycling.

Mr Norman 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.

“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 surge in the number of cyclists on the roads. In 2015, two 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.

Ministers will report in the New Year with proposals for any new offence.

Kim Briggs, 44, an HR executive and mother of two, was crossing a road in East London when she was hit by Charlie Alliston, 20, in February last year. She received appalling head injuries and died later in hospital.

Last month Alliston, then 18, who was riding a bicycle without a front brake, was convicted of “wanton or furious driving” under a 150-year-old law. He was also prosecuted for manslaughter, but was found not guilty after a week-long trial.

Mrs Briggs’ widower Matthew said some aspects of our cycling culture needed radical change. “This is not a witch hunt against all cyclists – I, myself cycle in London – only the irresponsible and reckless,” he said.