UK Proposes Life Sentences for Cyclists Who Cause Fatal Road Accidents
Cyclists who kill or seriously injure others through dangerous or reckless riding could soon face life in prison under proposed changes to UK law, aligning cycling offences with those committed by motorists.
Currently, the law governing cycling-related fatalities dates back to 1861, originally targeting drivers of horse-drawn carriages. The outdated legislation caps prison terms at just two years.
Now, under a proposed amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, the Department for Transport (DfT) aims to modernize road safety laws by introducing tougher penalties for cyclists who cause death or serious harm through dangerous, careless, or inconsiderate riding.
Details of the Proposed Changes
If passed, the new law would introduce:
- Life sentences for death caused by dangerous cycling
- Up to five years in prison for causing death by careless or inconsiderate cycling
- Two-year maximum sentence for causing serious injury through careless cycling
The DfT emphasized that these changes would target the “tiny minority” of cyclists who pose risks to public safety, asserting that updating the 160-year-old law is long overdue.
Public Campaigns and Parliamentary Support
The legislative push follows years of advocacy by campaigners like Matthew Briggs, whose wife Kim Briggs died in 2016 after being struck by a cyclist in London. The rider, Charlie Alliston, was using a fixed-gear bike without front brakes and was convicted under the archaic “wanton or furious driving” law.
Briggs called the proposed legal update a near “breakthrough,” reflecting the collective pressure from bereaved families. He praised Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, who represents him as an MP, for championing the reform.
“This is about extracting something good from tragedy,” Briggs told the BBC. “It’s time to bring the law into the 21st century.”
Cycling Advocates Urge Caution
While acknowledging the need for legal clarity, cycling advocacy group Cycling UK warned that changes should be evidence-based and proportionate. Spokesperson Duncan Dollimore said that fatalities involving cyclists remain “exceptionally rare” and that new laws should not discourage sustainable transport.
He stressed that any legal update should balance public safety with the need to promote active travel, especially amid environmental and health concerns.
Next Steps
The amendment is currently at the committee stage in Parliament, with debates expected in the coming weeks. The government insists it will act at the “first opportunity” to bring the reforms into effect.
The UK saw around 1,600 road fatalities last year, with four attributed to cycling incidents.
