I'm supposed to be working, so naturally I'm checking my Twitter feed.
I came across this piece of news.
I thought the law already forbids the killing of pedestrians by cyclists; are specific provisions really needed?
'tis the way these days. We've enough laws to cover almost anything but by introducing another law the powers that be can put their hands on their hearts and say that they've done something.
Nothing really changes but something has been done.
Is the current law here not “wanton and furious driving”? Could probably do with an update
The review followed the case of cyclist Charlie Alliston, who was jailed for 18 months in September for knocking over and killing 44-year-old Kim Briggs as he sped through east London on a bike with no front brakes.
hard cases make bad law.
Can we have an offence of stepping into a road in front of a cyclist? More deaths causes that way.
Can we have an offence of stepping into a road in front of a cyclist?
That, and a contributory negligence award if the pedestrian didn't wear a helmet.
I'd stop and think before having a go at people walking. Cycling-specific laws and walking-specific laws are all part of the same puzzle.
From the companion piece to the one linked above:
"So, from two almost identical events, we have two perfectly opposite campaigns to change the law: one to crack down on cyclists, one to crack down on pedestrians. Suddenly it seems as if, unlike a century ago, the auto industry can almost sit back and do nothing: the groups it wants out of the way are so busy kicking each other out of the road that they can’t see the headlights bearing down on them."
What about horses and joggers? We need laws to deal with them too
Cyclists need to be responsible for their actions. Fine.
But let's have the same responsibility for other road users. Esp. formal law on passing distance and speed. Continental law introduced on driver assumed to hold liability.
It’s a sop to the daily mail reading car comes first brigade. It’s going to happen whatever we do, so my position is to not get annoyed about it
Death by dangerous jogging could be a thing, a runner could startle a pedestrian? Causing them to die.
Just as pointless, as mentioned the law already covers such events, albeit not specifically.
If the powers that be want to create specific offenses, whatever.
In terms of the actual law I have no problem. Killing someone through dangerous or careless cycling is bad. But this isn't something we should be focusing on. I'd sooner see our government prioritising legislation based on evidence and need.
Probably from the same twitter commentators you read that that year 2 people were killed by people on bikes. 409 people on foot by people driving cars.
This taken in the context of 1730 road deaths, 22,144 serious injuries or 186000 injuries of all severity.
Then consider that one in six premature deaths are linked to a sedentary lifestyle and the second most common preventable cause of cancer after smoking is obesity.
But you know, road tax, helmets, RLJ, high vis...
At this rate I'll have the entire back catalogue on this thread 🙂
But let’s have the same responsibility for other road users. Esp. formal law on passing distance and speed.
https://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/passing-laws/
The Road Danger Reduction Forum has written a thorough blog on this -
https://rdrf.org.uk/2018/01/10/should-cyclists-be-able-to-hurt-or-kill-with-impunity/
Is this a government engaging in displacement activity?
Just anything to distract itself from the awful horror facing it.
Good blog.
The short answer is that no, cyclists should not be able to kill with impunity- but neither should drivers, and it seems pretty insane in the face of the stats to pretend that anything else happens.
I also agree with above though, we are going to be forced to wear metaphorical muzzles under knee jerk ‘dangerous cyclist’ legislation whether we like it or not.
Here's hoping that one day we'll have enough laws to perpetuate justice.
Let's not forget speed walkers.
Maybe the wrong place but I keep seeing that double decker bus skidding to avoid a car and everyone saying what great driving it was on Facebook. Am I the only one seeing a bus going to fast for the conditions and not able to safely stop when a car is stuck in its lane? The country is so wedded to the idea that we should not slow down ever they fail to see the obvious.
This is the modern way.
When common sense and self responsibility are on the wane we just throw a law at the situation instead.
Pressing for "insured cyclists"?
If everyone is insured then perhaps we can all act like idiots with little conciquence.
If it's comparable to "death by dangerous driving" you'd need to get pissed, strap a range of medieval weapons to the front of your bike, disconnect the brakes and and set of down a hill towards a school crossing before the charge would even be considered. Of course, it's likely it would be downgraded to careless cycling as not all the children died and the sun was low. £75 fine and 5 points.
So mostly academic.
Just more pointless frottaging of the daily mail readership by the Tories, while homelessness , child poverty, NHS crisis etc all increasing massively & then brexit being complete lunacy....
Yeah focusing on something that might have been applicable to 1 case in the last 10 years (no matter how tragic) is definitely not meant to divert from the countries real issues.
How about a law prosecuting MPs that vote to cut disability benefits leading to suicide? Be a fk lot more potential prosecutions then
What about rollerbladers?
What about rollerbladers?
Rollerbladers can be killed or maimed in any which way suits your fancy, it's decent upstanding members of the community we're discussing here, not extras from an Eddie Murphy film.
If it’s comparable to “death by dangerous driving” you’d need to get pissed, strap a range of medieval weapons to the front of your bike, disconnect the brakes and and set of down a hill towards a school crossing before the charge would even be considered. Of course, it’s likely it would be downgraded to careless cycling as not all the children died and the sun was low. £75 fine and 5 points.
Sadly, I suspect your average juror thinks that ALL cycling is dangerous and so there'll be a near 100% conviction rate
Maybe the wrong place but I keep seeing that double decker bus skidding to avoid a car and everyone saying what great driving it was on Facebook. Am I the only one seeing a bus going to fast for the conditions and not able to safely stop when a car is stuck in its lane? The country is so wedded to the idea that we should not slow down ever they fail to see the obvious.
A_A I thought exactly the same. The bus should have been going far slower, in anticipation of a car doing precisely what it did. Treated as a hero on BBC news!
Kimbers
Your post sums this county up and you're not alone in how you feel I can assure you.
Far from it.
It is a waste of parliamentary and civil service time, arguing about it compounds the issue.
It is going to apply to one person every 5 years, ignore it is a law for idiots (those it will apply to and those who think it is a priority)