UK cycling advocates criticise 'knee-jerk' new laws for dangerous riding

This week’s news of tougher punishments for dangerous cycling in the UK have met criticism from several leading cycling advocates.

While few have argued against the basic premise of cyclists being held accountable for reckless actions that cause injury or fatality, many have questioned the government’s motives in honing in on this “one piece of the puzzle”, as the Cycling UK charity put it.

Meanwhile, Chris Boardman, former Olympic champion and current National Active Travel Commissioner, pointed out that people are statistically more likely to be killed by lightning or a cow than by a cyclist.

The issue has garnered mainstream national media attention this week as ministers in the UK backed an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill that would introduce three new offences for ‘dangerous’, ‘careless’, or ‘inconsiderate’ cycling that causes death or injury. The new laws are yet to be ratified by the House of Lords but if passed would bring punishments for cyclists in line with those for drivers, upping maximum prison sentences from two years to 14 years.

• Read more: Dangerous cycling set to carry tougher prison sentences under new UK laws

Soon after the plans were announced, Cycling UK issued a strong statement from its head of campaigns, Duncan Dollimore.

“The government announced a kneejerk plan to do part of a job badly. Ten years ago, government ministers recognised that road traffic laws weren’t effective in reducing irresponsible behaviour on our streets and promised a full review of traffic offences and penalties, which still hasn't materialised.

"Having done nothing to address these much wider problems with road traffic laws, the government wants to legislate on one piece of the puzzle without having thought through how this will work more broadly - including how it plans to deal with e-scooters and other forms of micro-mobility, or what other road traffic offences need to be changed,” Dollimore added.

“If the government is serious about making our roads safer for everyone, it should revisit the wider review it promised ten years ago."

Boardman, appearing on BBC breakfast television, argued that the new laws will fix a problem that doesn’t really exist, or at least pales into insignificance when looking at the bigger picture of fatalities and injuries on the roads.

“30,000 people are killed or seriously injured on our roads every year, and there are less than three involving a cyclist,” said Boardman, whose own mother was killed by a driver.

“Absolutely, everybody should obey the laws of the road – why not – but I’m frustrated that something that is so good for society, and joyous, is getting so much focus in a negative way, when I’d rather be sitting here talking to you about how we save five lives a day.

“There’s absolutely no question that everyone faces penalties for their behaviour on the road and has a duty to look after others. The point is what impact will it have when you’re in the same realms as lightning and cows? I don’t have a problem with it but there are other things I’d like to be talking about that would do a lot of good.”

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