Cyclists face having to follow new regulations that could see them being handed more stringent penalties. As part of the Crime and Policing Bill, officials are taking road safety more seriously for all users by making the changes, the Government said. These include ensuring that spaces are safer for pedestrians “by introducing new cycling offences to tackle those rare instances where victims have been killed or seriously injured by irresponsible cyclist behaviour”. The authorities added: “What we are doing will not criminalise new behaviours.

“Instead, they will ensure that people who cause serious harm because of their bad cycling behaviour, which is already a criminal offence, are subject to penalties which equivalent to those already in place if the same level of harm is caused by drivers of other vehicles.” Officials also stated that there are “already strict laws in place for cyclists and police have the power to prosecute if these are broken”.

New offences and penalties

The offences and maximum penalties being introduced include:

• Causing death by dangerous cycling. On conviction on indictment, up to life imprisonment.
• Causing serious injury by dangerous cycling. On conviction on indictment, 5 years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. On summary conviction, the general limit in a magistrates’ court (currently 12 months) (in England and Wales), or 12 months (in Scotland); or the statutory maximum fine, or both.
• Causing death by careless or inconsiderate cycling. On conviction on indictment, 5 years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. On summary conviction, the general limit in a magistrates’ court (currently 12 months) (in England and Wales), or the maximum term of imprisonment on summary conviction (currently 12 months) (in Scotland); or the statutory maximum fine, or both.
• Causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate cycling. On conviction on indictment, 2 years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. On summary conviction, the general limit in a magistrates’ court (currently 12 months) (in England and Wales), or the maximum term of imprisonment on summary conviction (currently 12 months) (in Scotland); or the statutory maximum fine or both.

There are also new regulations that address conduct, including:

• The Road Traffic Act 1991 which created cycling offences parallel to those of careless and dangerous driving. The maximum fines are currently £1,000 for careless cycling and £2,500 for dangerous cycling.
• If bodily harm is caused by the cyclist, they can be prosecuted for wanton and furious driving under Section 35 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. The maximum penalty is 2 years imprisonment.
• Under section 30 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 Act it is an offence to ride a bicycle on a “road or other public place” if one is unfit due to drink or drugs. The maximum punishment for this offence is a £1,000 fine.

The Liverpool Echo reports that in order to ensure “consistency in offences and penalties across Great Britain”, the “legislation will extend to Scotland as well as England and Wales”.