Cyclists who kill pedestrians through dangerous cycling could be sentenced to life imprisonment in England and Wales, according to new amendments to the crime and policing bill.
The Department for Transport revealed on Thursday that amendments to the crime and policing bill would bring dangerous cycling penalties in line with driving offences.
Currently, reckless cyclists face a maximum two-year sentence under Victorian-era laws dating back to the 1860s.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander aims to close this loophole by reviving legal changes that were shelved when the general election was called.
The new legislation has gained support from campaigners, including Matt Briggs, whose wife Kim died after being struck by a cyclist in 2016.
"After losing Kim in 2016, I began campaigning the following year to have these laws enacted," Briggs told the Telegraph. "The use of the 'wanton and furious' charge for so many cases has been inadequate and archaic."
"I'm absolutely delighted that this Labour government has followed through with our calls for new legislation. This isn't just a victory for me and my family, it's also a victory for all the families who have worked tirelessly through their unbearable tragedies to have these laws changed."
However, the amendments have faced criticism from some in the cycling community. Chris Boardman, former Olympic cyclist and national active travel commissioner for England, expressed concerns that the new laws might discourage people from cycling, at a time when Labour has promised "unprecedented levels of funding" to promote cycling as part of its net zero strategy.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: "Dangerous cycling is completely unacceptable, and the safety of our roads is a key priority for this government."
"The government is proposing new offences and penalties for dangerous cycling, updating legislation that is over 160 years old, to ensure that the tiny minority who recklessly disregard others face the full force of the law."
"These are being brought forward as part of the crime and policing bill and will be debated in due course."
