Over 80 per cent of drivers involved in the death of a cyclist in a road collision AREN’T being sent to prison
New figures have revealed the number of drivers convicted for cyclist deaths - and less than a third lost their licence
WORRYING statistics have revealed the number of drivers given prison sentences for killing cyclists on the road.
Just one in six drivers involved in fatal collisions with cyclists over the last decade have been handed a custodial sentence, according to data unearthed by Cycling UK.
Freedom of Information requests by the charity organisation found over 80 per cent of motorists involved in the death of a cyclist avoided jail.
And less than a third of those drivers lost their licence.
Figures from ten police forces across the country showed 209 cyclist deaths from 2007-2017.
Of those cases, 86 drivers were charged with a "causing death" offence, either by careless or dangerous driving, with 66 successfully convicted.
But just 31 of those ended up receiving a custodial sentence.
The data obtained only shows a snapshot of the issue, with 33 other police forces failing to provide information to Cycling UK.
Just over 100 cyclists are killed on average each year in the UK, suggesting more than 1,000 would have died during the period of this study.
The UK's largest force, the Metropolitan Police, were among those unable to provide data on cyclist deaths.
ON YER BIKE Motorists face £100 fine and three points if they drive this close to cyclists
Cycling UK is now calling for another Government review of traffic offences, with an estimated 465 cyclists killed on British roads since the last one in 2014.
Duncan Dollimore, Cycling UK’s head of campaigns, said: “Back in May 2014, the Government saw sense and announced its intention to hold a wide scale review of road traffic offences.
"Four years on and with thousands of lives lost on our roads, little has been done.
"That’s short sighted and is a shocking failure to act that ignores the greatest dangers on our roads.
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“Cycling UK is renewing our call for a wider review of road traffic offences, looking specifically at the charges relating to what is classified as ‘dangerous’ and ‘careless’ behaviour.
“Cycling UK accepts a prison sentence isn’t always the answer and we want to see far greater use of driving disqualification.
"Drivers who pose a risk have no place on our roads, and the law should be strengthened to ensure their removal."