Charity calls for UK law changes for liability in road accidents

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Motor vehicle drivers should be liable for road accidents involving pedestrians or cyclists unless they prove it's not their fault say RoadPeace - 3rd December 2007 

Road safety charity RoadPeace has said that motorcyclists should be held responsible for road accidents involving cyclists or pedestrians unless they can prove they were not to blame.  

Director of RoadPeace, Amy Aeron-Thomas said the group is trying to get the law changed in the UK so "In any collision involving a pedestrian or cyclist, the motor vehicle driver is held responsible for civil compensation.....unless it can be proven that the cyclist or pedestrian made the error."

In other European countries including Germany, France, Belgium and Holland car drivers and motorcyclists or car drivers are assumed liable if in collision with pedestrians or cyclists unless they can prove it's not their fault, allowing cyclist compensation or pedestrian compensation claims to be made.

Their compulsory motor insurance has extra cover built in to allow for compensation claims. Sheila Rainger a spokeswomen for the RAC Foundation added that such a law would give "carte blanche to pedestrians or cyclists to behave as recklessly as they like".