Policy paper

Crime and Policing Bill: dangerous cycling offences factsheet

Updated 20 June 2025

1. What are we going to do?

We are making our streets safer for pedestrians, by introducing new cycling offences to tackle those rare instances where victims have been killed or seriously injured by irresponsible cyclist behaviour.

What we are doing will not criminalise new behaviours. Instead, they will ensure that people who cause serious harm because of their bad cycling behaviour, which is already a criminal offence, are subject to penalties which equivalent to those already in place if the same level of harm is caused by drivers of other vehicles.

2. How are we going to do it?

The bill introduces appropriate offences to the Road Traffic Act 1988, with the corresponding maximum penalties being set out in  the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

The offences and their maximum penalties that are being introduced to achieve this are:

• Causing death by dangerous cycling. On conviction on indictment, up to life imprisonment.
• Causing serious injury by dangerous cycling. On conviction on indictment, 5 years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. On summary conviction, the general limit in a magistrates’ court (currently 12 months) (in England and Wales), or 12 months (in Scotland); or the statutory maximum fine, or both.
• Causing death by careless or inconsiderate cycling.  On conviction on indictment, 5 years’ imprisonment,  a fine, or both. On summary conviction,  the general limit in a magistrates’ court (currently 12 months) (in England and Wales), or the maximum term of imprisonment on summary conviction (currently 12 months) (in Scotland); or the statutory maximum fine, or both.
• Causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate cycling. On conviction on indictment, 2 years’ imprisonment,  a fine, or both. On summary conviction,  the general limit in a magistrates’ court (currently 12 months) (in England and Wales), or the maximum term of imprisonment on summary conviction (currently 12 months) (in Scotland); or the statutory maximum fine or both.

In order to ensure consistency in offences and penalties across Great Britain, the legislation will extend to Scotland as well as England and Wales.

3. Background

In 2023, in Great Britain, there were 4 fatalities and 185 serious injuries where a pedestrian was hit by a cyclist. Over the last 10 years, an average of 3 pedestrians were killed per year.

Like all road users, cyclists are required to comply with road traffic law in the interests of the safety of other road users, and this is reflected in the Highway Code. Cyclists can currently be prosecuted under the offences of:

• sections 28 and 29 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (“the 1988 Act”) of dangerous, and careless or inconsiderate, cycling, parallel to those of dangerous, and careless or inconsiderate driving. The maximum penalty for these offences are currently a fine of £2,500 for dangerous cycling and a fine of £1,000 for careless cycling;
• wanton and furious driving under section 35 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, if bodily harm is caused by the cyclist. The maximum penalty is 2 years’ imprisonment;
• section 30 of the 1988 Act of riding a cycle if one is unfit due to drink or drugs. The maximum penalty for this offence is a £1,000 fine.

The maximum penalties available for these offences are not adequate for those incidents that result in serious or fatal injury. That is why the Department for Transport carried out a consultation in 2018: New cycling offences: causing death or serious injury; publishing a response to the consultation in 2024: Consultation outcome: Proposals for new cycling offences: government response to consultation.

4. Key statistics

In 2023, there were 4 fatalities and 185 serious injuries where a pedestrian was hit by a cyclist. The same year, there were 268 fatalities and 4,639 serious injuries where a pedestrian was hit by a car.

Over the last 10 years, an average of 3 pedestrians were killed per year by a cyclist. Over the same period, an average of 283 pedestrians were killed per year in collisions with cars.

44 pedal cyclists were prosecuted or convicted for careless cycling in 2023, compared to the previous year’s total of 47.

5 pedal cyclists were prosecuted or convicted for reckless or dangerous cycling in 2023 (the same number as 2022).

5. Frequently asked questions

5.1 Why are these new offences necessary?

No pedestrian should feed unsafe. Protecting pedestrians and all road users is a priority for this government.

It is important to ensure there is an appropriate framework of offences to punish dangerous and careless behaviour that results in serious harm to other road users.

These new offences introduce penalties which are equivalent to those already in place if the same level of harm is caused by drivers of other vehicles.

5.2 Why are you specifically focusing on cyclists?

In rare, tragic cases that have occurred in recent years, the drawbacks of relying on the current offences, notably the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 have been clear.

The bill  will rectify this, bringing these offences into line with motoring offences.

It will ensure the penalties are equivalent to those already in place, if the same of level of harm is caused by drivers of other vehicles.

5.3 Why don’t cyclists have to follow the rules? 

They do. There are already strict laws in place for cyclists and police have the power to prosecute if these are broken.

Like all road users, cyclists have a duty to behave in a safe and responsible manner, and this is reflected in the Highway Code.

As well as specific cycling offences (i.e. cycling on the pavement) there are also ones that cover behaviour, including:

• The Road Traffic Act 1991 which created cycling offences parallel to those of careless and dangerous driving. The maximum fines are currently £1,000 for careless cycling and £2,500 for dangerous cycling.
• If bodily harm is caused by the cyclist, they can be prosecuted for wanton and furious driving under Section 35 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. The maximum penalty is 2 years imprisonment.
• Under section 30 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 Act it is an offence to ride a bicycle on a “road or other public place” if one is unfit due to drink or drugs. The maximum punishment for this offence is a £1,000 fine.

5.4 Do speed limits apply to cyclists? If not, what plans do you have to review this?

While speed limits set under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 only apply to motor vehicles, cyclists can still be charged with careless or dangerous cycling offences depending on the circumstances.

The government has  no plans to extend the speed limit legislation to include people riding push bikes on the public highway, e-cycles are restricted to 15.5mph for public safety, meaning that the power assistance should cut out if the cycle reaches a speed of more than 15.5 mph.  If this is not the case, the e-cycle will be treated as a motor vehicle for the purpose of road traffic legislation, so that speed limits will apply.

But people who cycle have a duty, like all road users, to behave in a safe and responsible manner.  For those who do not adopt a responsible attitude, or if their use of the highway creates an unsafe environment or causes nuisance, laws such as the current offences of dangerous or careless cycling can make them liable for prosecution. The police are responsible for enforcement of road traffic law.

5.5 Does the government support cycling?

On 12 February 2025, the Department for Transport announced the details of almost £300 million of funding for active travel in 2024/5 and 2025/6 for local authorities to provide high-quality and easily accessible active travel schemes across England.

Investment in active travel supports the government’s economic growth, health and net zero missions by helping to revitalise high streets, improving air quality and supporting people to live longer, healthier lives.

This government will be bold and ambitious on active travel. We will set out ambitious plans to promote greener journeys – no matter how people choose to travel. 

The second phase of the spending review  is now underway. The government will set out its spending plans for future years, including funding for walking, wheeling and cycling later in the spring. The government will consult on a new cycling and walking investment strategy, with relevant stakeholders, ahead of its publication.