In an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, ministers have agreed to introduce the offence of causing death by dangerous, careless or inconsiderate cycling, and causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate cycling.
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00:00Cyclists could soon be punished in the same way as other road users for reckless behaviour.
00:07In an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, ministers have agreed to introduce the offence
00:11of causing death by dangerous, careless or inconsiderate cycling, and causing serious
00:15injury by careless or inconsiderate cycling. As it stands, the bill still needs to be presented
00:20to the Lords for further debate. It follows campaigning by MP Sir Ian Duncan-Smith, who
00:25said cyclists should be held accountable for careless behaviour, but said the law wasn't
00:29anti-cycling, and in fact the opposite. The proposal aims to make the current convoluted
00:34and difficult legal process simpler, according to Sir Ian. Transport Secretary Mark Harper
00:39said most cyclists, like most drivers, are responsible and considerate, but it's only
00:43right that the tiny minority who recklessly disregard others face the full weight of the
00:48law for doing so. While bodies that represent cyclists back change that makes roads safer,
00:52they point out road deaths involving cyclists are rare, and that a greater focus is instead
00:57needed on deaths and injuries caused by motor vehicles. With the law potentially changing,
01:02do you know your Highway Code rules pertaining to cyclists?