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More than 1,000 cyclists in London injured in hit-and-run collisions in 2014

One in five collisions with cyclists a hit and run - "substantial proportion" of illegal drivers in the capital to blame...

More than 1,000 London cyclists were injured, and two killed, in hit and run collisions in 2014 according to figures obtained by the Green Party's Jenny Jones.

Although the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured in the capital fell last year, hit and runs involving cyclists increased 13% to 1,014, while pedestrian hit and run injuries increased 16%. Almost one fifth of all injuries to both cyclists and pedestrians involved drivers who failed to stop.

Green Party Assembly Member, Baroness Jones, who has been highly critical of dangerous driving in the capital said the figures, which she requested during last week's Mayor's Question Time, show the “culture of lawless roads” is getting worse and more police are needed to curb the "substantial proportion" of illegal drivers in London.

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She said: “Drivers in London are trying to escape justice in increasing numbers and the culture of lawless roads is getting worse, not better. I think London’s hard pushed traffic police do a great job, but there are not enough of them.  The Met Police really must act urgently to ensure that drivers take responsibility for their actions and the Mayor needs to make road crime a priority.

"Something has gone very wrong when a fifth of the injuries to pedestrians and cyclists involve a failure to stop. There are far too many arrogant drivers who think they can get away with injuring someone, just as they think they can get away with breaking the rules on speeding, jumping red lights and using mobile phones.”

Of cyclist deaths in 2014 Asaad Ahmed, 32-year-old father of two, was killed by a hit and run while cycling on Commercial Road in November, while David Blake, 57, was killed in Whitechapel by a hit and run in December. There were 91 serious injuries and 921 slight injuries to cyclists involved in hit and runs.

In 2014 1,212 pedestrians were victims of hit and runs, up from 1,043 the previous year. In 2013, 894 cyclists were victims of hit and run collisions.

Research highlighted by Baroness Jones, has shown motorists without insurance and valid driving licences are more likely to be involved in collisions than those driving legally. The DfT has found uninsured drivers are 10 times more likely to have drink driving convictions, while those without a licence are up to nine times more likely to be involved in a collison.

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10 comments

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Housecathst | 8 years ago
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I wish they would spend a bit of the money they spend on protecting us from terrorism on protecting us from the far more dangerous motorised terrorists.

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Simmo72 | 8 years ago
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heavier punishment, more police, more education, confiscate cars (funds go to berived families), have a government that gives a crap....last one might be difficult.

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mrmo | 8 years ago
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the only real solution is for the government to realise that we need traffic police, that there have to be police actually on the roads. The difference in driver behaviour in when they see police is marked.

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rich_b replied to mrmo | 8 years ago
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mrmo wrote:

the only real solution is for the government to realise that we need traffic police, that there have to be police actually on the roads. The difference in driver behaviour in when they see police is marked.

There are police on the roads in London most weeks, but for some reason they only ever seem to target cyclists (but of course we no the reason, easy targets, easy fines, little paperwork etc. etc.).

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Opus the Poet replied to rich_b | 8 years ago
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rich_b wrote:
mrmo wrote:

the only real solution is for the government to realise that we need traffic police, that there have to be police actually on the roads. The difference in driver behaviour in when they see police is marked.

There are police on the roads in London most weeks, but for some reason they only ever seem to target cyclists (but of course we no the reason, easy targets, easy fines, little paperwork etc. etc.).

LEO are human, humans are lazy, therefore LEO are lazy. Most of us will only do as much as required for survival, nothing more. We have the same problems in the States, traffic enforcement is as little as they can get away with, and seldom on the actual problems that get people killed (DUI, running red lights, and excessive speeding) because with the exception of red lights it isn't legal to automate roads enforcement in the US and we just don't have the manpower to cover all the roads to check for DUI or catch drivers going more than 20 MPH over the limits.  102

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brooksby | 8 years ago
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Quote:

She said: “Drivers in London are trying to escape justice in increasing numbers and the culture of lawless roads is getting worse, not better. I think London’s hard pushed traffic police do a great job, but there are not enough of them. The Met Police really must act urgently to ensure that drivers take responsibility for their actions and the Mayor needs to make road crime a priority.

I think that cars should be forced to have a registration number, and pay some sort of fee; everyone knows that would stop any and all law breaking immediately. Oh, wait, hang on...

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KarlM77 replied to brooksby | 8 years ago
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And do a test.  36

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Ratfink | 8 years ago
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There's a thing going on where drivers just insure a car online at someone elses address and claim to be whatever works out the cheapest regarding age,no claims,locality etc.
Pay the 1st instalment then get a month or so to produce proof of no claims etc which they never do so the policy gets cancelled.
They then just move onto the next company and do it again.
Then these cars never get flagged up by ANPR as according to records they are insured.
It's organised as whole streets get hit for a year or so.
I know people that have had police turn up on the doorstep trying to find the owners of cars involved in hit and runs that are insured at their address.

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Airzound replied to Ratfink | 8 years ago
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Ratfink wrote:

There's a thing going on where drivers just insure a car online at someone elses address and claim to be whatever works out the cheapest regarding age,no claims,locality etc.
Pay the 1st instalment then get a month or so to produce proof of no claims etc which they never do so the policy gets cancelled.
They then just move onto the next company and do it again.
Then these cars never get flagged up by ANPR as according to records they are insured.
It's organised as whole streets get hit for a year or so.
I know people that have had police turn up on the doorstep trying to find the owners of cars involved in hit and runs that are insured at their address.

The beauty of the internet for you where you can be anyone or anyone else you want to.

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danthomascyclist | 8 years ago
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So you've recklessly smashed a cyclist to death using your car. You have two options:

1) Hand yourself in, probably get a 12 month sentence, a few points and a trivial fine.
2) Do a runner. You probably won't get caught, but if you do, you won't really receive much more of a sentence than if you hand yourself in.

Shock horror, people are going for option 2 because our penalties for this kind of behaviour are so pathetic.

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