According to him, this is not possible with current legislation. A cyclist who kills a pedestrian, for example, can receive a maximum of two years in prison. The maximum penalties are much higher for drivers of a car who cause a fatal accident.
Shapps is also annoyed in British media by “a selfish minority among cyclists who seem to believe they are immune to red lights”. According to the minister, cyclists must be made clear what damage they can cause by a combination of carelessness and speed. He wants to include his plan in the overarching Transport Act and present it to parliament in the autumn.
According to polls, the English have cycled much more in the first half of this year than, for example, in the first half of 2021. On weekdays, the number of cyclists is said to have increased by almost half, possibly because savings are being made as a result of the price increases.