I understand that the UK Government has launched a consultation on whether there is a need to fill a gap in the law relating to cases, however rare, of dangerous cycling in England and Wales. These proposals are at a very early stage, and I would urge all stakeholders to respond to the consultation and make their views heard.
Since Scotland has a separate legal system to England and Wales, these provisions will not necessarily apply here in Scotland. The UK Government is currently investigating to determine whether there is a gap in the law in Scotland relating to cycling that causes death or injury, similar to the one that it has identified in England and Wales.
In relation to road safety and the law, the Scottish Government’s proposal of ending prison sentences that are shorter than twelve months concerns me deeply, and I hope that these plans would not impinge on our need to be tough on dangerous and careless drivers who break the law.
It is important that we act to ensure that our roads are safe for all road users – pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists alike. I am pleased that the UK Government acted in 2012 to introduce the new offence of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, which marked a much-needed tougher approach to the minority of motorists whose driving imperils other road users’ lives.