Government advisers are advocating a change in the law which will see the most powerful vehicle involved in a crash automatically liable for insurance and compensation purposes. This will mean in accidents involving cars and cyclists or pedestrians, the motorist will be legally responsible even if it was not their fault.
The change is aimed at encouraging more people to take up cycling or walking, but is likely to anger motorists who may argue that it is the dangerous behaviour (such as jumping lights) of some cyclists that causes accidents.
The chief executive of Cycling England, an agency that promotes cycling and is funded by the DfT, said four key policy changes were needed: "I would like to see the legal onus placed on motorists when there are accidents; speed limits reduced to 20mph on suburban and residential roads; cycling taught to all schoolchildren; and cycling provision included in major planning applications."
Already the government is spending £100m on building cycle routes in 18 pilot towns. However, councils in three towns have had anti-cycling protests as motorists and residents object to road space and parking space being turned into cycle routes.
Placing the blame on the most powerful vehicle involved is an extremely controversial proposal, but campaigners say that similar polices already in place in Germany and Holland say they have had a significant influence in changing attitudes to cycling.
However, the President of the AA Edmund King said it would be wrong to see cyclists and motorists as separate and opposed groups. "Many cyclists are motorists and many motorists are cyclists. Simple changes in the law that assume one party is in the wrong because of what they drive will not help harmony on the roads."
Full story - Times Online 20/09/09
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