Most Brits would support an identification scheme for cyclists, with penalty points issued for those who break the rules, a poll has found.
Motoring lawyer Nick Freeman last month launched a parliamentary petition calling for a compulsory registration scheme for cyclists and a clampdown on e-scooters.
He said cyclists should have unique identification numbers, similar to car plates, and penalty points on their driving licences if they break the rules.
A YouGov poll found that six in ten people would back the scheme, with 31% saying they would "strongly support" this idea.
While support is higher among Conservative voters (71%), Labour voters would also broadly support the idea (55%).
But the poll found that around a quarter of people (28%) would not support the identification scheme, with 15% “strongly” opposed to it.
YouGov found 43% of people who used bikes supported the idea, while 51% would oppose the proposal.
The poll found that 61% of car drivers are in favour of identification for cyclists.
And seven in ten people (71%) said they would back penalty points for cyclists who break the laws of road.
Only 20% of the public would oppose points for cyclists, according to YouGov.
Launching the petition, Mr Freeman said cyclists were 15 times more likely to be killed on British roads than motorists.
He told The Telegraph : "This is not about a war between drivers and others but to have one law for all – to improve safety for all and create harmonious shared road space.
"While there are many responsible cyclists, there are still too many who ride with little respect for the rules of the road."
He added: "Unlike motorists, there is no legal imperative for identification, so anonymity was – and remains – a gift for those who cycle with impunity."
Mr Freeman also called for tighter rules around e-scooters, which are now legal if rented as part of a government trial.
But despite this, thousands of e-scooters have been sold in the UK, with reports that drug dealers are using them to "go under the radar" and evade the police.
Criminologist Mohammed Qasim said: “It’s almost like UberEats or Deliveroo. Having an electric scooter allows drug dealers to hide in plain sight.
“Drug dealers entice teenagers with a free scooter and then get them whizzing around cities like London and Birmingham doing deliveries.
“They know they’re unlikely to be stopped on an e-scooter so it puts control into their hands.”
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