Cyclists face phone ban: Tory Pier says bike riders should be treated just like that.

Pickering’s Barnes Mackintosh proposal would align the law for cyclists with motorists. The former minister called for tougher rules after being confronted by a bike rider on his way to Parliament House in London, following “one hand cycling, one hand mobile phone, on the wrong side of the road”. .

As Barnes Mackintosh crossed the street, he said, “It’s not clear if he’ll stop.”

Highway code changes designed to protect pedestrians and cyclists took effect on January 29, with Rule 149 requiring motorists to “always exercise proper control of your vehicle” and prohibit the use of mobile phones while driving.

Barnes McIntosh, 67, questioned why the same rules do not apply to cyclists and other road users.

Some cyclists and e-scooter riders have complained of using their phones “inappropriately” on the road, citing the government as creating “criminal offenses related to pedal bikes, electronically assisted bikes and dangerous, reckless and reckless cycling for e-scooter users.” Should. “

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While there is no specific offense for cyclists to use their phones, they can be fined up to 500 2,500 for reckless or dangerous cycling – and the transport minister says existing laws already prohibit bike and e-scooter riders from using mobile phones.

Barnes Verne of Norbitton argued: “Cycling and using mobile phones or headphones is not a specific crime, but cyclists and e-bike riders can be prosecuted by the police for reckless and dangerous cycling with a maximum fine of £ 1,000 and £ 2,500.” Respectively. “

According to Barnes Mackintosh, e-scooters are even more worrying.

The Transport Minister has already clarified the use of handheld mobile phones as a crime in the current e-scooter trial regulations of the government.

He said: “Just to straighten out the record, in terms of e-scooters, it is an e-scooter that falls under user regulations and it is a crime to use a handheld mobile phone in that e-scooter. – Scooter.

“They could be fined and they could even get six penalty points.”

Barnes McIntosh, who withdrew a proposal to apologize for not including changes to the highway code for cyclists and e-scooters, commented after a lack of understanding of the code caused confusion among road users.

A survey of more than 2,000 members of the public by the National Accident Helpline found that the majority – 73 percent – are not sure if recent changes are improving road safety at all.

Meanwhile, 34 percent admitted that they found the rules too difficult to follow.

In the case of cyclists, the survey found that 71 percent of people think that bikers have full rights to the road as opposed to giving priority to cars on the country’s roads.