Wednesday 30th September 2009

Motorists To Take Blame For Cycle Crashes

Cycling lobby group wants 'legal onus' for accidents involving cars to be placed on drivers

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Law would be intended to encourage bicycle use

The government is being advised to make motorists automatically responsible in all accidents involving cyclists, a move that could cause insurance premiums to soar.

A Department for Transport funded agency called Cycling England is calling for a change in civil law to make drivers liable for compensation and other insurance costs. "I would like to see the legal onus placed on motorists when there are accidents" says Phillip Darnton, chief executive of Cycling England.

The legislation that Cycling England is pushing for could also have worrying implications for other motorists. If the idea is that the more powerful vehicle in an accident is always to blame, what's to stop a clever lawyer arguing that the Toyota Prius that's just rear-ended your new 911 is actually the innocent party?

Hopefully, however, the proposals are little more than hot air. In fact a spokesman for the DfT, in a moment of uncharacteristic common sense, said: "This is something that gets raised by pressure groups from time to time. Cycling England has proposed it, but it is not something that is being considered by ministers."

[loomx]

Well the ammount of cyclists that dont know how to use the roads in oxford is just unreal! so this is a load of BS in my opinion.

How about, if its the cyclists fault, its cyclists fault. If its the drivers fault, its the drivers fault... Oh wait is that to simple?!