News reaches Cyclo that Andrea Leadsom, the Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire, has presented an MP-sponsored bill to parliament proposing a new offence of “causing death by dangerous cycling”. Leadsom was prompted into action in support of a constituent whose teenage daughter, Rhiannon Bennett, died from head injuries after being struck by a cyclist, Jason Howard, who was subsequently found guilty of “dangerous cycling” and fined £2,200. Whilst few such bills go beyond their first reading at Westminster it has since been reported that Mike Penning, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, has also offered his support to the family (if not, expressly, to the bill.)
Introducing the bill last month Leadsom was at pains to stress that she was in no way anti-cycling, beginning her address to The House: “I am a keen cyclist and I heartily support the many people who leave their cars at home and cycle to work and school… Let me be clear from the beginning that it is not my intention to criminalise cyclists or to discourage people from using their bikes.” She concluded by highlighting the fact that the bike that Howard was on when he caused the accident was worth an estimated £6000, nearly three times the amount of the fine he was made to pay.
Cycling groups have largely come out against such legislation pointing out that the number of fatalities caused by cyclists is so infinitesimally small as to barely register. An emotive issue obviously (and who couldn’t have every sympathy with Rhiannon Bennett’s family) but this looks like another long wait for potential legislation not unlike that related to both compulsory helmet wearing and cycling insurances.
The full text of Leadsom’s address can be viewed on Hansard
