Cyclists could be punished the same as other road users for reckless behaviour

Local TV

In an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, ministers have agreed to introduce the offence of causing death by dangerous, careless or inconsiderate cycling, and causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate cycling.

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00:00Cyclists could soon be punished in the same way as other road users for reckless behaviour.

00:07In an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, ministers have agreed to introduce the offence

00:11of causing death by dangerous, careless or inconsiderate cycling, and causing serious

00:15injury by careless or inconsiderate cycling. As it stands, the bill still needs to be presented

00:20to the Lords for further debate. It follows campaigning by MP Sir Ian Duncan-Smith, who

00:25said cyclists should be held accountable for careless behaviour, but said the law wasn't

00:29anti-cycling, and in fact the opposite. The proposal aims to make the current convoluted

00:34and difficult legal process simpler, according to Sir Ian. Transport Secretary Mark Harper

00:39said most cyclists, like most drivers, are responsible and considerate, but it's only

00:43right that the tiny minority who recklessly disregard others face the full weight of the

00:48law for doing so. While bodies that represent cyclists back change that makes roads safer,

00:52they point out road deaths involving cyclists are rare, and that a greater focus is instead

00:57needed on deaths and injuries caused by motor vehicles. With the law potentially changing,

01:02do you know your Highway Code rules pertaining to cyclists?

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