Of course, it goes w/o saying that drivers who kill cyclists, commonly dont even face custodial sentences. www.theguardian.com/news/2025/ap... - ThreadSky

garyinscotland.bsky.social • 62 days ago

Of course, it goes w/o saying that drivers who kill cyclists, commonly dont even face custodial sentences.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/apr/24/death-by-dangerous-cycling-crime-policing-bill?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Comments

jamesnonchalant.bsky.social•62 days ago

My take on this is that that in the case in question behind this the defendant was to put it mildly a bit of a dick and not very contrite. This is persecution of attitude which does have some merits but still there's a gross discrepancy in the law if this is held to when compared to motorists.

jamesnonchalant.bsky.social•62 days ago

It's sweaty roadie and fixie edgelord versus dude in a beemer driving at three times the speed limit.

garyinscotland.bsky.social•62 days ago

The victim in that case also stepped into his path without looking

jamesnonchalant.bsky.social•62 days ago

And the problem was he might have been right on one level but that isn't going to be a suitable response for a jury nor a grieving widower. Playing the law hasn't helped him or anyone else for that matter now?

garyinscotland.bsky.social•62 days ago

His social media posts were used against him weren't they? Allocated racing and stuff? It is unlikely similar would have been used against a driver.

jamesnonchalant.bsky.social•62 days ago

I don't disagree. Again, this is a more broader problem rather than one that should be tied to a single group. It's young men being idiots.

jwt373.bsky.social•62 days ago

Its worth restating that annually more people are killed by cows in the UK than by cyclists.

garyinscotland.bsky.social•61 days ago

https://bsky.app/profile/cargobikeben.bsky.social/post/3lnoxt5ndw22y

jwt373.bsky.social•61 days ago

Yep, x 1000

cycleoptic.bsky.social•62 days ago

but they’re usually only “careless” !

timmorton2.bsky.social•62 days ago

cargobikeben.bsky.social•62 days ago

You’re both correct. Where a custodial sentence is given, it’s around 4.5 years.

The issue is, as Gary pointed out, only a small percentage of those responsible for a cyclists’ death actually receive custodial sentences.

You need to be given a custodial sentence to get a custodial sentence.

garyinscotland.bsky.social•62 days ago

I don't know for sure, but Tim's data appears to refer to all deaths resulting from dangerous driving (not just cycle users).

Presumably it won't refer to deaths to cycle users resulting from careless driving either?

timmorton2.bsky.social•62 days ago

That’s correct, I was focusing on the victims, the law was trying to address, the pedestrians, there is data too on who kills cyclists.

cargobikeben.bsky.social•62 days ago

The law isn’t trying to address that. If it was, it wouldn’t just be squarely focused on cyclists and would be attempting to address the overwhelming number of deaths of all road users where drivers are either not convicted or under convicted.

This is red meat for the Reform tempted voter.

garyinscotland.bsky.social•62 days ago

Hear hear. It's a daft, reactionary policy that makes nobody safer, but does give a bit of gristly satisfaction to cycle loathing tools who populate social media and newspaper columns.

ericeatspickles.bsky.social•60 days ago

Only 1 in 10 killer drivers get jail if they kill a cyclist, according to this 11 year old article.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/40-cyclists-killed-4-drivers-jailed-exclusive-investigation-reveals-only-one-in-10-drivers-are-jailed-after-being-involved-in-cyclist-death-9034187.html

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply