Reckless syclists flout street guidelines days after Government approves legislation change to save lots of lives | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Dangerous cyclists flouting street guidelines spotlight the pressing want for a clampdown on bicycles placing folks in danger.

Our footage present a person speaking on his cell phone whereas one hand is off the handlebars in Central London simply days after the Government agreed to toughen jail sentences for reckless cyclists.

Another picture confirmed two folks weaving via pedestrians on a pavement on Friday final week, two days after the federal government agreed to a change within the legislation.

Another snap caught a duo getting into a street clearly marked as “closed”.

Cyclists who trigger loss of life or severe damage might withstand 14 years in jail below contemporary legal guidelines making their means via Parliament.

Tory MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith has been campaigning on the difficulty and believes cyclists must be accountable for reckless behaviour.

Speaking within the House of Commons, the previous Conservative chief mentioned his modification to the Criminal Justice Bill was not “anti-cycling”.

He added: “Quite the other, it is about ensuring this takes place in a secure and cheap method.”

Pictures confirmed cyclists using on pavements beside pedestrians or getting into roads clearly marked as “closed”.

Other snaps seize folks chatting on the cellphone with one hand off the handlebars.

Sir Iain raised the case of Matthew Briggs, whose spouse died from head accidents following a collision with a bike owner in London in 2016.

The bike owner, who was using a fixed-gear bike with no entrance brakes, was jailed for 18 months after he was discovered responsible on the Old Bailey of “wanton or furious driving”, utilizing a legislation from 1861 – the Offences Against The Person Act.

Sir Iain mentioned: “(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 additionally mentioned: “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.”

Dangerous biking is already outlined within the Road Traffic Act, which incorporates using in a means which “falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful cyclist” and which “would be obvious to a competent and careful cyclist that riding in that way would be dangerous”.

The proposed legislation would require cyclists to verify their automobile “is equipped and maintained” in a authorized means, which incorporates conserving brakes in working order.

It would apply to incidents involving pedal cycles, e-bikes, e-scooters and e-unicycles.

Causing loss of life or severe damage by harmful, careless or thoughtless driving are already offences however the automobile concerned have to be “mechanically propelled”.