He raised the case of Matthew Briggs, whose wife died from head injuries following a collision with a cyclist in London in 2016.
Sir Iain told MPs that Mr Briggs’ attempt to get a cyclist prosecuted “involved a legal process that was so convoluted and difficult” even the presiding judge raised concerns and said the laws “needed to be addressed”.
His proposed amendment creates an offence of causing death or serious injury by dangerous, careless or inconsiderate cycling.
He said it would “achieve equal accountability” adding: “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.”
Backing the change, Transport Secretary Mark Harper, said: “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.”
Speaking to the BBC earlier this week, Duncan Dollimore from Cycling UK said he had “massive compassion” for people who had lost family members in collisions but that he did not believe there was a “huge gap” in the law.
He said incidents were rare but that cyclists who had caused deaths had been charged, convicted and sent to prison.
Leave a Reply