Cycling UK has commented positively on the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group report entitled ‘Cycling and the Justice System’ which identifies the loophole that each year allows over 8,500 drivers with 12 points or more on their licences to continue driving and calls for it to be closed.
The report contains 14 recommendations for action, predominantly for Government or the police, necessary to reduce danger on our roads for cyclists and other road users and improve the response of the justice system.
Amongst the reports’ recommendations is the need to close a legal loophole which allows over 8,500 people to continue driving, despite having 12 or more points on their licences, the point at which an obligatory six-month driving ban should kick in.
Cycling UK has commented that it agrees with the reports’ findings and has urged all political parties as they campaign to lead the next government to take road safety seriously, and incorporate the cross-party inquiry’s recommendations into their manifestos.
Cycling UK senior road safety and legal campaigns officer Duncan Dollimore said: “Last year, national headlines lamented the tragic case of cyclist Lee Martin, whose death was in part a consequence of the justice system putting one person’s right to drive above the safety of other road users.
“Rightly this cross-party group of MPs and Peers has identified the problems that affect us all – whether we’re driving, cycling or walking – and made sensible recommendations to make our roads safer.
“Cycling UK welcomes the ambition of the report’s recommendations and believes it should set the road safety agenda for the next Government. We hope politicians of all parties will be able to support them and work together to prevent avoidable and dangerous incidents on our roads.”