DfT Announces Urgent Review Into Cycle Safety
Knowing the rules of the road when you hit the pavement on your West Midlands electric bikes is certainly wise if you’re to stay safe and also not be a danger to others. But it seems that a few changes may well be on the cards for cyclists in the UK, following numerous incidents involving those on bikes.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that an urgent review into cycle safety will be carried out, looking at whether or not a new offence akin to causing death by careless or dangerous driving should be brought in for cyclists.
In 2015, two pedestrians were killed and 96 seriously injured in numerous incidents involving being hit by a bike. And every year, over 100 cyclists are killed and over 3,000 seriously injured on our roads… which suggests that something does need to be done to improve safety.
Jesse Norman, transport minister, said: “We already have strict laws that ensure that drivers who put people’s lives at risk are punished but, given recent cases, it is only right for us to look at whether dangerous cyclists should face the same consequences.
“We’ve seen the devastation that reckless cycling and driving can cause, and this review will help safeguard both Britain’s cyclists and those who share the roads with them.”
In the meantime, check out the government’s Think! Toolkit for cycling safety if you’re new to biking and want to stay safe. Road safety information is provided to help encourage people to look out for each other while on the road.