Overview

• The bill sets out new offences including causing death by dangerous cycling with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment on indictment.
• Other offences include causing serious injury by dangerous cycling (up to five years), causing death by careless or inconsiderate cycling (up to five years), and causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate cycling (up to two years).
• On summary conviction, courts can impose up to 12 months’ imprisonment in England, Wales and Scotland or a statutory maximum fine, or both.
• The government says the reforms do not criminalise new behaviours and instead create parity with motoring law to address rare but serious harm to pedestrians.
• The legislation would apply across England, Wales and Scotland and is still moving through Parliament with the possibility of amendments, following nearly £300m in DfT active-travel funding for 2024/25–2025/26.