Drivers facing £50 bike tax

DRIVERS face a bill of £50 a year to provide protection for cyclists. The European Union is proposing to make a car driver's insurance pay medical and repair costs to a cyclist involved in an accident, regardless of who was to blame.

Motoring organisations reacted with fury to the plan, which they warn will give the green light to 'bicycle guerillas' who ignore the rules of the road. Many cyclists routinely put themselves and other road users at risk by going through red lights, darting in and out of traffic and turning without signalling.

Currently, cyclists are not required to buy insurance to cover themselves or others, in terms of repair and medical bills. But rather than requiring them to buy policies of their own, it appears the EU, which believes that cycling must be encouraged, wants the financial burden of any accidents to be put on the shoulders of the motorist. This, it is claimed, will make drivers more careful and considerate.

Some bicycles can now be worth more than £1,000 - more than many older cars - but the real bills would come with medical costs and compensation for loss of wages for injured cyclists. If these costs are added to the cost of motor insurance, industry experts fear this could typically add £50 a year to premiums.

A European Union Commission document, which is examining new Europe-wide transport laws, says: 'Motor vehicles cause most accidents. Whoever is responsible, pedestrians and cyclists usually suffer more.'

In Britain, drivers are presumed innocent and not liable for compensation unless the cyclist can prove negligence. But in France, Belgium, Scandinavia, Holland and Germany, drivers are almost always assumed to be liable and must pay compensation from their insurance policies. The Commission is investigating whether this could be extended across the EU.

Even if Britain opposes the plan, it could be imposed here with majority support from other EU countries. However, it could take several years for the idea to be passed by the European Parliament and worked into British legislation.

Motoring groups have vowed to fight 'tooth and nail' to prevent the law being imposed on Britain. An RAC spokesman said: ' Drivers will have to pay higher premiums to compensate cyclists for their own mistakes. Many cyclists behave as if there were no legal constraints upon them. They are bicycle guerillas.'

However, cycling groups said the law would provide valuable protection for vulnerable cyclists and force drivers to be more careful. They believe motorists should be assumed to be criminally liable for any accident involving a cyclist or pedestrian unless they can prove otherwise.