It is being widely reported that ex-British boxing champion Gary Mason has died of his injuries at the scene of a collision with a van as he rode his bicycle.

Full details of the circumstances are yet to be revealed, but the van driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving, and bailed until March pending a full investigation.

Reports on the this is local London website appear to suggest that Mason's bicycle was not fitted with lights, which at just after 6am would have been a legal requirement on a dark winter morning.

Despite the full details of the accident not yet being known, there have already been calls for a harsh sentence should it be established that the motorist was at fault for the accident.

There have been a number of cycling fatalities in the past two years where the person responsible has been found guilty of causing death by careless driving, rather than the more serious offence of causing death by dangerous driving.

Even then, the sentences passed do not satisfy many cyclists. The perception amongst the cycling community is that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or the judiciary do not appear to be treating cyclist deaths like those of other road users.

It's believed that the CPS should be looking to prosecute more drivers for the more serious offence of causing death by dangerous driving, rather than the lesser offence of causing death by careless driving.

Only last month, Arron Bjorn was convicted of causing the death of talented club cyclist Cath Ward by careless and inconsiderate driving, when he already had a history of motoring offences.

The circumstances surrounding that accident suggest that the appropriate charge should have been causing death by dangerous driving. He was banned from driving for 12 months, given a 12 month community order, with 200 hours of unpaid work – Community Payback – and ordered to pay £110 costs.

Mason's death yesterday is the first cycling accident fatality in London this year, and comes before the end of the first week of 2011.

Dave Escandell, Cycle Team Leader at Access Legal from Shoosmiths, said: "'There have been 53 bicycle accident fatalities on London's roads in the past four years, and one so early in 2011 will raise further concerns, particularly as cyclist numbers expected to rise.

"Some commentators believe Transport for London's high profile media campaigns may not be reaching the correct audience.

"Most cyclists are well aware of the dangers on our roads, and any prolonged safety campaigns have to have an element of education directed at motorists, too.''

We will post updates on this case, and comment again once the full circumstances of the accident are known.

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