Cyclists jump red lights at deadly junction
FOUR out of five cyclists ignored red traffic lights at the junction where a mother of two was hit and killed by a man whose bike had no front brakes, a Sunday Telegraph survey has found.
Kim Briggs, 44, was killed in 2016 when Charlie Alliston collided with her as he rode across the Old Street junction on an illegal “fixie” bike, which had no front brakes.
Alliston was cleared of manslaughter but convicted of a Victorian era “furious and wanton driving” charge before being jailed for 18 months.
Mrs Briggs’s husband, Matt, 51, who has campaigned for legislation to be updated, said he found the Telegraph survey “deeply concerning”.
Of the 83 rush hour cyclists legally required to stop when they came up to red lights at a crossroads in east London, 65 carried on regardless. Only 18 cyclists obeyed the law by waiting for a green signal during the two hour survey from 8am this week in Hackney where Old Street crosses Charlotte Road.
During a separate lunch hour count, 32 cyclists, including nine fast food couriers, ignored red lights, with just two stopping to obey the law. In total, six lunchtime food delivery cyclists and two morning commuters mounted the pavement, one of whom travelled at speed before shouting insults at a pedestrian who challenged him.
The survey found men were twice as likely as women to jump red lights.
While some cyclists shooting the lights on Old Street weaved at speed between pedestrians crossing the road after seeing the “green man” sign, others slowed up to check it appeared safe before jumping the red light.
Those cyclists who obeyed the rules accused those who did not of putting themselves and other road users at risk.
The only motorised vehicle to cross the red lights during the road count was a fire appliance responding to a 999 call.
It is a criminal offence for a motorist or cyclist to jump a red light. It usually carries a £50 fixed penalty fine. While enforcement cameras may capture vehicle number plates, cyclists are less likely to be caught because they are not required to have a registration number.
Dangerous cycling, careless cycling or cycling on the pavement can result in a fixed penalty notice or, if the case goes to court, £2,500, £1,000 and £500 fines respectively if they are found guilty.
Last night, relations of those killed by cyclists called for the Government to update the Road Traffic Act to ensure cyclists who break the law are prosecuted in a similar way to motorists. Christine Berridge, whose brother Peter McCombie, 72, was killed in 2020 when a cyclist jumped a red light in London, said cyclists should have registration plates and insurance.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: “We are exploring changes to allow us to prosecute dangerous cyclists more easily, and delivering more continuous and direct cycling routes which are physically separated from pedestrians and motor traffic.”