Exclusive

Killer cyclists face prosecution under historic new law welcomed by campaigners

26 January 2022, 09:40 | Updated: 26 January 2022, 11:18

Campaigner Matt Briggs on dangerous cycling law changes

Rachael Venables

By Rachael Venables

Campaigners have welcomed a historic change in the law that could finally see killer cyclists prosecuted.

Cyclists who cause death by dangerous cycling could soon be prosecuted under an historic change in the law, announced on LBC.

On Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps revealed he wants to be able to prosecute cyclists who cause fatal crashes in a similar way to drivers.

Currently motorists face a maximum jail term of 14 years for causing death by dangerous driving but MPs want to increase the sentence to life.

"It's to make sure that we're able to prosecute cyclists who for example cause death by their own dangerous cycling.

"It's worth noting that I think the injuries and deaths that take place because of cyclists are also unacceptable."

Read more: Reduced train services 'shouldn't be in place a day longer than needed': Grant Shapps

Read more: Grant Shapps ridiculed over 'Thick of It' train tannoy video

Cycling laws are due to change, years after the Charlie Alliston (right) case
Cycling laws are due to change, years after the Charlie Alliston (right) case. Picture: Alamy

Matthew Briggs has been campaigning for this change in the law since his wife Kim was killed in a crash with a cyclist in 2016.

Charlie Alliston collided with the mum-of-two as she crossed the road on her lunch break in Old Street in East London. He was riding a fixed gear bike at the time, which illegally had no front brakes.

But Matthew was horrified to learn there was no specific law for causing death by dangerous cycling: "It was about a week after Kim's death, I was sat at Bluewater buying school uniforms for the kids, when I got a call from the police who said they felt there was perhaps criminality involved.

"But then came the big stop, which is when the police officer said to me 'we have nothing to charge him with. I have never come across this before. There are no laws to charge a cyclist for this.'"

It took 18 months to reach court, with the cyclist eventually prosecuted under a law so old it was originally designed to cover driving offences with horse-drawn carriages.

Then 18-years-old, Alliston was found guilty of causing bodily harm by "wanton and furious driving" and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

In comparison, the charge of "death by dangerous" driving carries a maximum sentence of fourteen years.

Matthew tells me the consultation into a legal change is done, and the law is ready to go. He now wants to see the Department for Transport follow through with its promise.

"It is a simple tidy up of the law, that will reduce pressure and heartache for families, at a time that is simply awful."

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Exclusive
Nick Ferrari Challenge: Can LBC’s Henry Riley recreate Daniel Khalife’s prison escape?

Nick Ferrari Challenge: Can LBC’s Henry Riley recreate Daniel Khalife’s dramatic prison escape?

Exclusive
Mandy Damari, the mother of Emily Damari - the last remaining British citizen being held hostage in Gaza - has pleaded with Sir Keir Starmer to help bring her daughter home as she looked back on the harrowing events of October 7.

'It nearly broke my heart': Mother of British hostage Emily Damari blasts Downing Street over vetoed Gaza deal

Exclusive
Jane Rubens, 73, from Edinburgh was hit by a large vehicle in early November and remains in a coma.

Insurance firm gave Brit 'less than 24 hours' to make a decision against doctors’ advice after mum suffered brain injury

Exclusive
LBC’s Nick Ferrari has remembered being spiked while at a party.

‘The whole world was spinning’: Nick Ferrari candidly recalls drink spiking as he shares 'appalling' side-effects

Exclusive
‘The storm of war is gathering’: Defence cuts leave UK critically unprepared for a 'bumpy decade', warns ex-minister

‘The storm of war is gathering’: Defence cuts leave UK 'woefully unprepared' for a 'bumpy decade', warns ex-minister

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson 'hasn't changed her mind' and will vote against assisted dying bill

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson 'hasn't changed her mind' and will vote against assisted dying bill

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Why did Trump win and why did Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters

Why did Trump win and Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters in the wake of US election results

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the United States'

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the US'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said she strongly disagrees with a tweet that a backbench MP appeared to have reposted saying Kemi Badenoch represents "white supremacy in blackface".

Cooper condemns 'appalling' tweet shared by Dawn Butler labelling Kemi Badenoch 'white supremacy in blackface'

Exclusive
Cumberland County: Where the US election could be won or lost

Nick Ferrari travels to America for the US Election: Watch the best bits here

Exclusive
The Chancellor was speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast

Chancellor ‘doesn’t know’ salary of new chairman tasked with ensuring government ‘value for money'

Transparency over Southport stabbings key to avoiding 'deep public mistrust in the criminal justice system', says Jenrick

Transparency over Southport stabbings key to avoiding 'deep public mistrust' in criminal justice system, says Jenrick

Exclusive
The government has introduced its football governance bill.

'We're on the same side': Minister denies feud with Premier League over Football Governance Bill

Exclusive
Protest sign reading Danger water pollution, this water is polluted with raw sewage. The responsible party is Thames Water. River Wey, Guildford, UK

Government warns demand for water could outstrip supply as they launch review into 'broken' sector

Nick Ferrari.

'He'll look over his shoulder for the rest of his life': Concern for Martyn Blake's privacy long overdue