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Cyclists who kill pedestrians could be jailed for life under new law (www.bikeradar.com)

submitted 8 hours ago by elonmuskszahnbuerste to c/bicycling@lemmy.world

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[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 9 points 2 hours ago

Of course, Conservatives would dream this nonsense up.

just 0.6 per cent of pedestrian fatalities involve a collision with a bike.

Typical Conservative strategy: Focus on a non-issue, and make it seem so outrageously important, that people can't help but be outraged.

The UK Government reports 9 pedestrian fatalities involving cyclists... from 2018 to 2022. During the same period, there were over 1600 deaths caused by drivers of motorcycles, cars, buses, or trucks.

And for some balance, this pedestrian only got three years for killing a cyclist.

[–] SpiceDealer@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 2 hours ago

And yet egomaniacal BMW drivers and Super Duty wackos get so much as a fine for killing a cyclists.

[–] CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de 31 points 7 hours ago (4 children)

That’s fine, but do it for cars first.

[–] blueamigafan@lemmy.world 11 points 6 hours ago

Absolutely there was a lad sent down for only 2 years a few days here in the UK, he killed all 3 of his passengers and gave two kids in the car he hit life long injuries. 2 years is a joke.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clywee36nx5o

[–] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 15 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

I was going to say.... meanwhile, car driver kills a motorcyclist and all they have to do is utter the phrase "I didn't see him". Big oopsie!

[–] Mac@mander.xyz 2 points 4 hours ago

SMIDSY!

[–] jabathekek@sopuli.xyz 7 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

The amendments tabled on Thursday will bring the offence of death by dangerous cycling in line with motoring laws, the Department for Transport says.

[–] Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (1 children)

So, drivers who kill pedestrians currently get life in prison? I've never heard of this happening.

[–] jabathekek@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 hour ago

Me neither. I suppose the main point is that the maximum sentence of two years is no longer applicable. Personally I think it may be justified in some cases with larger e-bikes. I've seen people doing maybe 40 or 50 k on shared pedestrian paths with their bicycles that are basically electric motorcycles with pedals. If a kid stepped out in front of them I wouldn't want to see what happens. An adult might get their leg broken, or even killed if they fall in a certain way. Not to mention the risk of permanent damage...

I doubt this law will be maximally applied to cyclists on regular bicycles, not enough weight and speed. Put them on the heaviest, fastest e-bike though, and the equation comes out different.

[–] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Does "vehicular homicide" not exist in the uk?

[–] essell@lemmy.world 3 points 6 hours ago

Different terms, and potentially different offences depending on circumstances, but yes it effectively does.

It is against the law to kill people with your car or to drive in a manner which does, or could, kill someone.

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 11 points 6 hours ago

Cyclists are punished more severely than motorists because cyclists killing pedestrians is a violation of established hierarchy, whereas motorists doing the same is a reinforcement of it.