In May 2024, the government announced that “death by dangerous cycling” was set to become a criminal offence.
In this post we’ll examine what this new “dangerous cycling” law involves, and the implications it might have on drivers, cyclists, and other road users.
If you’re a cyclist, have you considered getting specialist bicycle insurance? This can cover the costs of repairs, or the cost of a replacement bike, in the event of theft, loss, or damage. For more information, get in touch and we’ll sort you out.
What is the Dangerous Cycling Law?
Through an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, there could be a number of new criminal offences, including:
- Causing death by dangerous cycling
- Causing serious injury by dangerous cycling
- Causing death by careless or inconsiderate cycling
What Does the Dangerous Cycling Law Mean?
The new law essentially means that, if a cyclist injures or kills another road user because of dangerous, careless, or inconsiderate cycling, they will face the same penalties as drivers and motorcyclists who cause serious incidents. This means that any cyclist convicted could face up to 14 years in prison.
The amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill was put forward by former Tory party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith. In a House of Commons Speech, Sir Iain said that the bill is not “anti-cycling”, but about making sure all road users have “equal accountability.”
He said: “Just as drivers are held accountable for dangerous driving that results in death, cyclists I think should face similar consequences for reckless behaviour.”
Will These Dangerous Cycling Laws Be Passed?
MPs voted in favour of this amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill on 16 May 2024. Yet since then, there has been a general election. The UK now has a completely new government, and it is too early to say whether this law will still be passed.
The new law has never had unanimous support. A spokesperson for Cycling UK suggested to the BBC that there is not a “huge gap” in the law when it comes to dangerous cycling. He said that incidents of cyclists causing serious injury or death are rare, and that any cyclist that caused such an incident can already be charged and convicted under current legislation.
Similarly, a spokesperson for Active Travel England pointed out that while everyone should obey the law of the road, “more people will be killed by cows and lightning than by cyclists.”
Road Users Should Look Out For Each Other
So, will the new Labour government honour the vote to pass this law? We don’t know. Yet one thing is for certain: There will always be a much greater casualty rate among cyclists involved in accidents than there is among car drivers involved in accidents.
For cyclists in Britain, fatalities increased by 5% and serious injuries by 26% between 2004 and 2020.
Mark Stevenson, Anthony Jones Managing Director, said:
“All road users should commit to be as safe, sensible, and conscientious as possible – and this of course extends to cyclists. Dangerous cycling has caused serious injury and death to others, so they should face the same penalties as other dangerous road users.
“However, cyclists will always be more vulnerable than drivers. Everyone should work together to keep the roads safe for everyone. While this new law would remind cyclists of the importance of safe cycling, it would not help drivers avoid liability in the event of a collision.”
Specialist Insurance Cover For Cyclists
Have you considered specialist bicycle insurance?
A dedicated policy can cover the costs of repairs, or the cost of a replacement bike, in the event of theft, loss, or damage. For more information, get in touch and we’ll sort you out.
