New law to jail dangerous cyclists for up to 14 years after MPs back legislation

Cyclists who cause deaths or serious injuries on the roads could be facing up to 14 years behind bars, as MPs have given the go ahead to a new law. The House of Commons has shown support for legislation that would create three new offences: "causing death by dangerous cycling", "causing serious injury by dangerous cycling", and "causing death by careless or inconsiderate cycling".

The push for change comes from Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, and has won the Government's backing. It's set to become part of the Criminal Justice Bill during its journey through Parliament.

Sir Iain, the former leader of the Conservatives, stressed that the move isn't about being anti-cycling but rather ensuring safety and reasonableness on the road. He brought attention to the case of Matthew Briggs, whose wife Kim was killed at 44 by a cyclist in east London.

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The cyclist, riding a fixed-gear bike without a front brake, got an 18-month jail sentence after being found guilty under the outdated "wanton or furious driving" offence from the 1861 Offences Against The Person Act.

In a conversation regarding the controversial case of Mr Briggs's wife in 2016, Sir Iain expressed: "(Mr Briggs') attempt to get a cyclist prosecuted after his wife was killed in central London in 2016 involved a legal process that was so convoluted and difficult even the presiding judge has said afterwards, since she's retired, that this made a mockery and therefore it needed to be addressed, that the laws do not cover what happened to his wife and is happening to lots of other people."

He went on to state: "The amendment, I believe, will achieve equal accountability, just as drivers are held accountable for dangerous driving that results in death, cyclists I think should face similar consequences for reckless behaviour that leads to fatalities."

Upon approval of the amendment, Transport Secretary Mark Harper responded saying: "Most cyclists, like most drivers, are responsible and considerate. But it's only right that the tiny minority who recklessly disregard others face the full weight of the law for doing so."

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Harper carried on further to say: "Just like car drivers who flout the law, we are backing this legislation introducing new offences around dangerous cycling. These new measures will help protect law-abiding cyclists, pedestrians and other road users, whilst ensuring justice is done."

Dangerous cycling is defined under the Road Traffic Act as riding in a way that "falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful cyclist" and in a manner where "it would be obvious to a competent and careful cyclist that riding in that way would be dangerous".

The proposed new law would require cyclists to ensure their bike "is equipped and maintained" to legal standards, which includes having working brakes. This legislation would cover incidents involving traditional bikes, e-bikes, e-scooters, and e-unicycles.

Current laws already make it an offence to cause death or serious injury by dangerous, careless, or inconsiderate driving. However, these offences only apply to "mechanically propelled" vehicles.