Road Safety GB has welcomed a new Government consultation which will look at whether a new offence equivalent to causing death by careless or dangerous driving should be introduced for dangerous cyclists.
At the same time, the DfT also announced that it will look at updating parts of the Highway Code, including measures to counter the dangerous practice of ‘close passing’ – and that it has commissioned the Cycle Proofing Working Group to develop national guidance and best practice for cycling and walking infrastructure.
Steve Horton, Road Safety GB’s director of communications, said: “It’s right that Government reviews legislation and considers the evolution of existing and the development of new laws to support responsible road use.
“It’s so often selfish behaviour from individual road users that leads to the life-changing and life-ending events we see and hear about daily, so when this happens it’s right that society has a mechanism to express outrage.
“Of course legislation is as much about deterrent as it is punishment and in the main the deterrent is what helps people who want to do the right thing to maintain their behaviour.
“However, for those who make deliberate choices to allow their rights to override the rights of other road users then the punishments have to match the severity of their selfishness, regardless of the type of road user.
“Within all road user groups the majority are reasonable, considerate people but we see pockets of ignorance and arrogance that create unnecessary risk for others. This consultation acts as a reminder that all road users must play their part in sharing the highway safely.”
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13 August 2018
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