BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
A week after Paralympic hand cyclist Rachel Morris was injured whilst training on the road, Members of Parliament and the House of Lords are getting behind calls for a comprehensive justice review covering victims of road accidents.
Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group Julian Huppert MP has tabled an Early Day Motion calling on MPs to support British Cycling’s comprehensive justice review. MPs from the three main parties alike have signed in support, including Sir Peter Bottomley, Rosie Cooper, John Leech, Don Foster, Michael Gapes and Clive Betts.
Members of the House of Lords are unable to sign an Early Day Motion, but have offered support, according to British Cycling.
The Early Day Motion reads: "That this House notes that many victims of road accidents do not feel that the criminal justice system adequately protects or supports them in the aftermath of their case; further notes that it is important that those who have suffered traumatic incidents are given effective and sympathetic support as they attempt to rebuild their lives; welcomes the work of British Cycling and other groups including CTC, Sustrans, London Cycling Campaign, The Times, Cycling Weekly, RoadPeace and Brake to raise the profile of the issue and calls upon the Department for Justice to review carefully the evidence they have submitted and undertake a comprehensive review of each part of the criminal justice system from crash investigation standards through to sentencing guidelines to ensure it is fairer for cyclists, pedestrians and other road users who are hurt or seriously injured on the country’s roads."
British Cycling’s policy and legal affairs director Martin Gibbs said: “The way the justice system operates when someone is hurt on the road badly needs reviewing. The current process often gives out the wrong message about how we as a society value life and the right of people to travel safely. This is an issue for all road users and one the Lord Chancellor should take seriously.”
British Cycling is asking for cyclists to send stories of collisions or near misses into their site here.
