The government has opened a public consultation seeking views on whether there should be new offences for cyclists of causing death or serious injury when cycling, and what the associated penalties might be.
It also seeks feedback on the scope and penalties of existing offences, which for cycling currently apply only to the road (which includes the pavement) but not in other public places.
The Department for Transport reports that between 2011 and 2016 there were 2,491 recorded collisions between cyclists and pedestrians (where no other vehicle was involved) that resulted in a pedestrian casualty, of which 20 were fatal and 546 resulted in serious injury.
A government commissioned report published earlier this year concluded that there is a persuasive case for legislative change to tackle the issue of dangerous and careless cycling that causes serious injury or death, in order to bring cycling offences in line with driving offences.
Consultation responses on this document are requested by 5 November 2018, following which the government will provide a response on how it intends to proceed within three months.
As serious injury specialists, we support any legislation that will make our roads safer and reduce the number of life-changing injuries cyclists, motorists and pedestrians suffer every year.