A CONSERVATIVE Party politician is demanding cyclists and pesky e-scooter riders be banned from using their mobile phone while zipping around.
Baroness McIntosh of Pickering wants an immediate law change so both groups are prosecuted in the same way that car drivers are.
She erupted at users on two wheels who use mobile phones “inappropriately” and accused e-scooter riders of having “absolutely terrorised” Brits.
It comes as the life peer was nearly struck down near Parliament by a reckless cyclist who had “one hand bicycling, one hand on the mobile phone, on the wrong side of the road”.
Speaking of the incident, Baroness McIntosh, 67, said: “It wasn’t clear whether he was going to stop or not.”
She is now urging the government to “create criminal offences relating to dangerous, careless and inconsiderate cycling for those users of pedal bikes, electronically assisted bikes and e-scooters”.
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The former MP for Vale of York also challenged the Department for Transport on why it had not already addressed the issue.
There is no specific offence for a cyclist using a phone, but a minister pointed out cyclists can be prosecuted for careless or dangerous cycling.
Such an offence comes with whopping fines of up to £2,500.
Baroness McIntosh’s cries for a law change come after updates to the Highway Code in January.
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These included a hierarchy of road users designed to protecting vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.
The former MP questioned why Rule 149 of the code, requiring motorists to “exercise proper control of your vehicle at all times” and banning use of a mobile phone while driving, did not apply to cyclists and other road users.
The use of e-scooters is completely illegal on most public roads in Britain– whether or not the owner is using a mobile phone while riding.
Electric scooters can only be used in areas operating an official rental scheme, this is part of on ongoing government trial across the country.
It is not a specific offence to cycle and use a mobile phone or headphones
Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Transport Minister
E-scooters can be used on private land.
But Transport minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton insisted existing laws already banned cyclists and e-scooter riders from using mobile phones.
She said: “It is not a specific offence to cycle and use a mobile phone or headphones.
“But cyclists and e-bike riders can be prosecuted by the police for careless and dangerous cycling with maximum fines of £1,000 and £2,500 respectively.”
She said the regulations in the government’s current e-scooter trial already state that is an offence to use a handheld mobile phone while operating one.
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Lady Vere added rule-flouters could be smacked with a fine and get six penalty points if they broke the rules.
Baroness McIntosh of Pickering was Member of Parliament for Vale of York from 1997 to 2010 and subsequently Vale of York until 2015
