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The Department of Transport has poured cold water on the proposal that motorists will be automatically blamed for accidents involving cyclists, as reported in the Daily Telegraph.
A spokesperson for the Department said: “Cyclists are traffic and are subject to the same laws as other traffic. They are responsible for their own actions and whether insured or not are liable for the consequences of their actions.”
The statement follows a quote from Cycling England chief executive Phillip Darnton. Speaking at the weekend, he said: “I would like to see the legal onus placed on motorists when there are accidents; speed limits reduced to 20mph on suburban and residential roads; cycling taught to all schoolchildren; and cycling provision included in major planning applications.”
Despite the DfTs rebuttal, the proposal has met with a heated response from some sections of the media.
