A furious row broke out on GB News today between journalist Carole Malone and commentator Amy Nickell-Turner over a new law change that says dangerous cycling that causes death could land people up to 14 years in prison.
On Wednesday night, MPs voted in favour of an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill that would create three new offences: causing death by dangerous cycling; causing serious injury by dangerous cycling and causing death by careless or inconsiderate cycling.
Speaking about this on GB News, Malone argued it is "outrageous" that harsher penalties were not enforced in the first place.
She said: "This is Iain Duncan Smith's campaign, and it's come hot on the heels of the guy who got off last year because he was racing around Regent's Park as part of a cycling club, at 29 miles an hour when the limit inside the park is 20 miles and he crashed into a retired nursery teacher, 81-year-old Hilda Griffiths, who died a few weeks later.
Carole Malone claimed it is "outrageous" that the penalties were not there in the first place
GB News
"Because of this, nothing happened to this guy. The Metropolitan Police didn't even bother to contact the CPS to see if he should or could be prosecuted.
"It's outrageous. And there are no speed limits for these cyclists either. So that's the very least that's got to be brought in.
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"These guys now are cycling every day. There's a cyclist on the pavement coming at me from somewhere, and not just me at elderly people, at mothers with babies and people who are disabled.
"And it's outrageous that nothing happens to them. Ten years ago they used to get fined. Now they don't. It's like cyclists of the gods on the road now."
Nickell-Turner argued: "I think it's difficult, though, because the roads don't seem to really facilitate for cyclists.
She added: "I think, where you have good cycle lanes there isn't this war of motorists versus cyclists quite as much. So I think maybe if we accommodate them more it would help."
Amendments to the Criminal Justice Act would impose harsher punishments on cyclistsPAMalone, visibly shocked, asked Nickell-Turner: "Are you kidding?" She responded: "Nation wide, Where I live in London it's fair."
Malone added: "Multi-millions have been spent to accommodate them."
Transport Secretary Mark Harper announced his support for the new rules, saying it would not apply to most cyclists, who are responsible and considerate.
He added: "But it’s only right that the tiny minority who recklessly disregard others face the full weight of the law for doing so.
"Just like car drivers who flout the law, we are backing this legislation introducing new offences around dangerous cycling.
Amy Nickell-Turner said that the roads should facilitate cyclists more
GB News
These new measures will help protect law-abiding cyclists, pedestrians and other road users, whilst ensuring justice is done."
The MP for the Forest of Dean also thanked fellow Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith for his work in bringing the amendment forward.
He added that the new rules were dedicated to campaigners who worked tirelessly on the issue, saying it was "in recognition of their efforts in particular".
The new rules could see dangerous cyclists who kill or seriously injure other people face maximum prison sentences as long as 14 years.