Prosecutions rise for cycling-related offences

The rate at which cyclists are being prosecuted for road offences has doubled in the last year.

The news comes at a time when there is a focus on dangerous cycling following the death of Kim Briggs, who was hit by a cyclist on an illegal bike.

An Old Bailey jury cleared the cyclist Charlie Alliston of manslaughter but found him guilty of wanton and furious driving.

According to the Express, last year 847 cyclists were convicted of road offences, a rise of 16 per cent in the past year, and almost double 2007’s figure of 440.

These include careless cycling, ignoring traffic signs, reckless and dangerous cycling, cycling drunk and riding on footpaths.

Over the last year the average penalty  for a cycling offence was a fine of £170.

Ignoring traffic signals was the most frequent offence in 2016 with 412 cases.

There were also 63 convictions for careless cycling and another 26 for reckless and dangerous cycling.

During the past seven years there have been 25 pedestrians killed in accidents with cyclists and another 700 seriously injured.

Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns at charity Cycling UK, said: “It is sometimes wrongly claimed cyclists cannot be held accountable on the roads, but these figures and the recent Alliston case show this is not the case, and that irresponsible behaviour can be, and is punished.” 

As we recently reported, the government is to hold a review into road safety, with a focus on cycling.

The first phase will look at whether a new offence equivalent to causing death by careless or dangerous driving should be introduced for cyclists, before moving on to the question of wider improvements for cycling road safety issues.