Skip advert
Advertisement

Cyclists could face same punishments as drivers

Motoring lawyer Nick Freeman calls for new penalties for cyclists, drawing terse response from Cycling UK

One of Britain’s top motoring lawyers is demanding new penalties for cyclists, as well as a controversial scheme to register the almost eight million cyclists who use Britain’s roads.

The scheme would mean bicycles being issued with number plates, or cyclists being forced to wear numbered tabards. It’s designed to enable the authorities to track rogue riders, and punish them with the same points and penalties faced by drivers.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The best bike racks of 2018

Nick Freeman, styled ‘Mr Loophole’ by the tabloid press, is better known for representing high profile celebrities such as David Beckham and Paddy McGuinness when facing driving charges. His latest intervention follows a government consultation on creating a new offence of ‘causing death by careless cycling’.

“Though every death is a terrible tragedy, the number of cases involving collisions between cyclists and pedestrians is minute. In contrast, there are countless situations every day in which thousands of cyclists recklessly cut red lights, ride on the pavement and generally use their bikes without due care or much worse,” Freeman told the Daily Express.

“As someone who travels 30,000-50,000 miles a year, I see this all the time. That’s why it isn’t enough just to tidy up bits of the statute. What the Government currently proposes is simply a headline grabbing vote-winner. In reality, it does nothing to address the real issue of road safety.”

The comments have attracted a pithy response from Cycling UK: "In 2014, after one of his clients was convicted of causing the death of an elderly rabbi by careless driving, Mr Freeman blamed the collision on the rabbi’s traditional dark clothing,” says the organisation’s Head of Campaigns Duncan Dollimore.

“Calling on the Government to require pedestrians to light up at night, he blamed the victim for failing to be more visible rather than his client for failing to look. His plans for road safety need to be considered in that context, and with due regard to the fact that he’s earned his fortune finding loopholes to help celebrity clients evade the road traffic laws that are designed to make our roads safer, even if they’re not always perfect."

Check out the 11 car safety systems that are set to become mandatory by 2021…

Skip advert
Advertisement
Current affairs and features editor

Chris covers all aspects of motoring life for Auto Express. Over a long career he has contributed news and car reviews to brands such as Autocar, WhatCar?, PistonHeads, Goodwood and The Motor Trader.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Ford Fiesta to return? Icon could be reborn as re-nosed Volkswagen ID.2
Ford Fiesta facelift - front cornering

Ford Fiesta to return? Icon could be reborn as re-nosed Volkswagen ID.2

VW’s sales and marketing boss considers Ford tech share “very successful” – and won’t rule out future projects
News
30 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025