Catholic Medical Quarterly Volume 67(4) November 2017
News
Dangerous cycling
Kim Briggs, died as a result of a cyclist hitting her while going to work in London on a bicycle which had no brakes. It turns out that there is no law of dangerous cycling in the UK. The only offence that could be used was that of “wanton and furious driving”. That offence was set out in the 19th century and carries a maximum sentence of two years in jail. Matthew Briggs, the widower of Kim is campaigning to change the law, enabling better penalties for dangerous cyclists. It is clear that cyclists kill fewer people each year on the roads than anybody else. In 2015 cyclists caused two deaths on England’s roads. But as a life-long cyclist and the parishioner of Kim’s brother in law Fr Charles Briggs, I feel bound to think that dangerous cycling laws must have merit. Everyone must seek to preserve life and the absence of an adequate remedy for dangerous cycling cannot be described as pro-life. Road traffic accidents may not be core pro-life business, but being pro-life we must value every life while seeking to afford our greatest efforts and protection to the most vulnerable.
Dr Adrian Treloar