Plans to increase cycling penalties

Published: Monday, 13 August 2018

THE Department of Transport is considering tougher sentences to punish careless cyclists.

An official review, published by the Department for Transport, concluded there was a ‘persuasive case’ for a new dangerous cycling law.

Punish careless riders

Death by Dangerous Cycling would then become a crime as much tougher sentences are proposed to punish careless riders that would put them under the same legal sanctions as dangerous motorists, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

A speeding 20 years old cyclists recently killed a 44 years old woman but could only be charged under an outdated 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, being found guilty of ‘wanton and furious driving’, for which he received just 18 months prison.

Make towpath a little safer

Ministers want to increase the maximum sentence to life in jail and increase sentences for other cycling offences, that would perhaps make our towpaths a little safer.

But first Canal & River Trust should stop those Strava speed cyclists from using the towpaths to achieve their maximum speeds. as its 'Drop Your Pace' scheme is a dismal failure.