Reckless cycling could soon be a road traffic accident offence

Cyclists who cause death or serious injury through dangerous and reckless cycling could soon be charged with a road traffic accident offence, following an increase in support for a backbench bill.

Introduced earlier this year by Andrea Leadsom, Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire, the bill will create a new offence for causing death or serious injury through cycling if made law.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 Law in Action, Ms Leadsom stated: "I have received literally hundreds of emails and letters from people across the country and outside this country, complaining about accidents caused by cyclists on pavements to children, to elderly people and so on."

According to Ms Leadsom, a common complaint is that following an accident, victims are unable to identify cyclists and there is a lack of accountability.

It has been proposed by the MP to update the 19th century horses and carriages furious and wanton driving offence, which carried a sentence of up to two years in prison.

However, a 2009 study claimed that only a small proportion of accidents involving cyclists are caused by riders cycling dangerously, meaning that the law may not have practical applications for many cases.

Published by Tessa Jones