§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the fixed penalty notice system to cyclists in respect of all traffic signs or orders. [31585]
§ Mr. MichaelThere is no need to extend the fixed penalty system in the way that is suggested in the question. Cyclists, in the same way as drivers of motor vehicles, can already be issued with fixed penalty notices for failing to comply with traffic signs, such as Stop and No Entry signs or automatic traffic signals, or with traffic "orders". By "orders" we mean "traffic regulation orders" made by local authorities under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 for the purpose of controlling the use of roads by traffic, including pedestrians.
Contraventions of traffic signs and traffic regulation orders are fixed penalty offences under provisions of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. Bicycles are "vehicles" in the context of road traffic legislation and the police can therefore issue fixed penalty notices to cyclists (aged 16 or over) who do not comply with the traffic signs described in section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, such as those mentioned above, or with traffic regulation orders made under the 1984 Act.
Other offences by cyclists which come within the fixed penalty system include cycling without lights and failing to stop for a police constable.
It has been decided that cycling on the pavement, and the riding by more than one person of a bicycle not constructed or adapted for the purpose, should be made fixed penalty offences later this year.