Andy Burnham has got to fix one crucial issue as Prime Minister (Image: Getty)
Andy Burnham has been in Downing Street for only a week, and he already has another motoring crisis landing on his in-tray. Although this one can’t wait. New data from Nextbase has revealed the true extent of cycling chaos on UK roads, and it doesn’t make for pretty reading.
Electric bikes may be the future, but they’re also bloody dangerous, and new stats show just how crazy the issue has become. The study found that 54% of e-bike users across 31,700 interactions at 78 junctions failed to stop at red lights, data that is up 45% on last year. This is unacceptable.
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New data shows cyclists are becoming a major problem on UK roads (Image: Getty)
London is the epicentre of the issue, with the four most dangerous junctions for bicycle and e-scooter red-light jumping in the country located in the capital. It may be easy for Burnham to push the issue into London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s lap. But it isn’t quite as simple as that, with Glasgow and the new PM’s beloved Manchester also affected. It really is a national issue.
Over 100 cyclists are killed on UK roads every year, accounting for up to 6% of road deaths. That’s dozens of families devastated. Something needs to be done. Cyclists have always been a safety issue for drivers, even more so because of the hierarchy of road users rules that state motorists bear greater responsibility to avoid an incident.
The very nature of the rule means that drivers will take greater accountability in an accident. That’s a major blow. Electric bikes are worse because of the speeds involved. A traditional cyclist will usually travel around 10mph, an electric bike can hit up to 20mph. That massively reduces the reaction time needed to dodge a clash.
The only way Burnham can solve the issue is to take a hands-on approach and there are seemingly two possible options.
New data shows cyclists are jumping red lights (Image: Getty)
One of these would be to mandate the use of dash cams in new cars. This vital tool can absolve road users in legal or insurance disputes as it provides a clearer image of the accident from the get-go. If a cyclist has driven across a red light, it likely won’t be the driver getting in trouble.
Next would be introducing a new rule forcing cyclists to be fitted with registration plates and a licence, with individuals picking up points for dangerous behaviour.
If cyclists were at risk of being banned from the saddle for jumping red lights and diving into junctions, it would surely calm everyone down. Mr Burnham, it’s time to take action.
Andy Burnham’s Just Been Hit With a Major Crisis – He’s Only Got Two Options Left
Andy Burnham faces a difficult political balancing act as pressure mounts over the direction of Britain’s future, the government’s approach to immigration and the economic challenges confronting households across the country. His growing prominence has placed him under intense scrutiny, with supporters expecting him to offer a credible alternative to the established political order and critics questioning whether his ambitions are matched by workable solutions.
The suggestion that Burnham has only two options left captures a dilemma confronting politicians across the Labour Party: whether to defend the government’s existing approach or embrace a more substantial change in direction. Neither route would be without risks, particularly when voters are demanding practical answers on public services, living costs, immigration and economic growth.
The central issue is whether Burnham can reconcile his political ambitions with the expectations of voters who want tangible improvements rather than another round of Westminster manoeuvring.
For a politician whose reputation is closely associated with regional development and greater local control, the challenge is especially significant. Proposals that appeal to voters in Greater Manchester may need substantial adaptation before they can be applied to the whole country. National government involves different financial pressures, competing regional priorities and decisions that can have consequences far beyond a single city.
Burnham’s next steps would therefore need to be judged on more than political presentation. They would need to demonstrate how his proposals would work, how they would be funded and what changes people could realistically expect.