WORLD CYCLE CHAMPION'S ROAD SAFETY CALL

That this House supports the call fromBritish cycle road race champion and Olympic gold medal prospect, Mark Cavendish, to bring UK road traffic personal injury legislation into line with most other European countries by applying the principle of stricter liability to vulnerable road victims; recognises that this means that drivers of motor vehicles that hit cyclists or pedestrians are assumed liable unless they can prove their innocence; notes that countries like Belgium, Netherlands and Sweden that apply the principle of stricter liability have much better cyclist and pedestrian safety records than in the UK; agrees with Mr Cavendish that this change should be made, not to penalise drivers, but to encourage them to be more aware of the vulnerability of cyclists and pedestrians; and urges the Government to adopt the principle of stricter liabilityin UK road traffic personal injury legislation.