Cyclists - time for a change in the law?

Question

With more cyclists taking to the road due to the price of petrol and trying to be greener isn't it about time they were required to have some sort of insurance.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20080709/tuk-cyclist-handed-laughable-fine-after-dba1618.html

Yet another death caused by utter stupidity and ignorance.

Why is it OK to kill someone by riding a bike into them but not so acceptable in the eyes of the law to do the same thing in a car? Who picks up the tab when a cyclist damages you or you vehicle?

Answer 1

Yes, it IS time for change in the law - but for all vehicle using murderers, not just cyclists. Car drivers get off too easy too.

Vehicular homicide is the one we need and the guy you cite should have gone to jail for years.

Cheers, Steve.

Answer 2

Cyclists should have to pass a test and pay insurance and their cycles should be tested in the same way a car has an MOT test to ensure it is roadworthy.

Cars, motorbikes and their drivers must follow these rules so why shouldn't other road users?

Answer 3

Ive always felt these cyclists are so over the top & dangerous they treat Pedestrians terribly, I walk by the canal sometimes & off they go ringing they're bell for me to get of the way even though there are notices saying Pedestrians are priority. How many of you has experienced a cyclists shouting "you idiot" or "get out of the way" etc they moan how they have problems with cars but there treat people walking like s*it. I don't know what it is that a bike suddenly makes them become so pompous have respect please!.

Answer 4

NO NO NO. Insurance? Then its license plates, inspection sticker, usage tax, ect. Leave the cyclists alone and when you see them, slow down.

Answer 5

Quite a sad story.

But then, if cyclists have to hold an insurance policy....then how is that requirement policed?

Another road-tax system of bureaucrats? Layers of law, lawyers suing & counter-sueing, injury specialists ads on the TV.

So how could you prove your bike / self was insured? Any stickers would be peeled off by smackheads (who NEVER pay for anything), police would have to have an 'online system' for road side checks....this sort of thing just runs aways with itself.

And what if you could not resonably obtain insurance (think of insuring a group 20 car as a teenager), do you think we should prevent people from riding?

What about a free society?

Our forefathers died for this concept.

Just a few thoughts of mine for you.....

Answer 6

I don't know about insurance, but a maximum fine of £2,500 for killing someone whilst on a cycle is laughable. The man in the case was even fined less than the maximum amount, even though he was clearly to blame, how pathetic and insulting to this girl's family.

Answer 7

Please.  It isn't okay to kill someone regardless of the means but how many people, in the history of the world, have killed someone else via their bicycle.  This is an anomaly.  This event, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

is much more common.  And guess what, if the driver of the truch in the WP story didn't commit an outright offense he won't be charged either.  I bike and drive in DC and I  have seen bikes hit by cars and in fact been hit.  I have never hit a pedestrian.

Answer 8

The law's OK.  It's the enforcement that needs attention.  From the reports of this case, I can't see why he wasn't charged with manslaughter.

If a cyclist causes damage, he is liable.  As with hit and run motorists, you've got to find out who he is and prove it.

Answer 9

it sounds to me like there doesn't need to be a change in your law... but in the prosecutors...

you need to make it clear to the government that represents you that this is a PROBLEM that you take seriously... find out who the representative for that area is and petition hard to ensure they are voted out of office on the grounds that they are NOT acting in the best interests of the people...

as in many other cases.. the problem is not that NEW laws are needed.. your barristers simply need to STRICTLY enforce the laws you already have... there are plenty of laws in the UK that cover causing an accidental death through negligence.. your court system simply refused to use those laws.

Answer 10

Like someone has money to pay insurancce if they are riding a bike because of hardship!

Answer 11

They should but at what age would it come into force, you could get a ten year old knock someone over and kill them. In the case you have then it sounds like they let him off far to lightly.

Answer 12

retox - the law is an ***! I agree with you,they should have insurance.

To Yahoo PC brigade,who starred out a word - an *** is a type of donkey,NOT a rude word! Grow up or learn English.

Answer 13

How dare you trivialise the deaths of hundreds of cyclists a year at the hands of car drivers with your idiotic question.