Sir – The maximum sentence for killer cyclists is two years’ jail. Killer drivers can get up to 14 years. I support Andrea Leadsom MP’s Dangerous and Reckless cycling Bill (Letters, May 26) because it would make our laws more equal.

My letter cited DfT data and examples of convictions; David Dixon (Letters, May 19 and June 2) gives only anecdotes. He claims my use of facts is selective and meant to mislead, but he provides none of the facts he claims I’ve withheld. I gave three examples of fatalities from 2006 to 2008. David implies these were the only pedestrian deaths that cyclists caused in five years. This is unfounded extrapolation, as is his claim that I want readers “to believe that the cyclist was always at fault” in collisions with pedestrians.

David claims “It is not clear how the proposed new legislation would lead to a reduction in deaths…” In that case did David oppose clauses of the Road Traffic Acts 1988 and 1991 that created new offences and increased sentences for killer motorists?

Chris Day (Letters, June 9) cites only one fact: deaths from dangerous driving are more frequent than those from dangerous cycling. Since when has one offence being more frequent than another been a reason not to legislate against the less frequent one?

Chris supposes I dislike cycling. Actually I love it and cycle every week. Chris claims I “travel around in [my] noisy, smelly, polluting, metal box”. Actually I’ve never had a car and the only metal boxes I ride are trains and low-emission buses.

Chris supposes I don’t genuinely care about road safety. Actually I’ve lobbied the county council and Highways Agency for years to reduce casualties.

Hugh Jaeger, Oxford