Biker seeks driving rules change after crash

A motorcyclist who suffered life-changing injuries after a crash has launched a campaign to replace give way signs with stop signs at thousands of junctions across Britain.

Rob Loupart spent four months in hospital and underwent six operations after a van pulled out in front of his motorcycle.

"There have been some dark times in terms of my mental health as well and I never want to go there again," the 54-year-old said.

His campaign comes after Department for Transport (DfT) figures showed about half of all casualties in Great Britain occurred at or within 20 metres (22 yards) of a junction. The DfT has been approached for comment.

Loupart was riding near Knighton on 3 December 2025 when a van emerged from a T-junction into his path.

The crash left him with two broken vertebrae, a shattered pelvis and multiple serious leg injuries.

Recalling the collision, he said: "There's a T-junction with a village on the left, it's really clear and open.

"I could see the van coming towards me so I was looking at him and he's slowing down for the junction as I get nearer.

"I keep looking at him and I can see his head's turned my way so I think 'fine, carry on'. But about three bike lengths from him, he just pulls straight out."

Loupart, from Lucton, Herefordshire, has launched a parliamentary petition calling for give way signs on minor roads joining A and B roads to be replaced with stop signs.

He believes requiring drivers to come to a complete stop would give them more time to assess approaching traffic and help reduce crashes.

The petition argues that ineffective observation, including failing to look properly or misjudging the speed of approaching vehicles, is a leading factor in road casualty collisions.

Returning to the scene of the crash for the first time, Loupart said learning how many casualties happen at junctions spurred him into action.

"That's particularly T-junctions and staggered ones," he said.

"I thought 'that's crazy and I've got to do something about this'."

The proposal would apply to junctions where minor roads meet A and B roads. Roundabouts and give way junctions on minor roads would remain unchanged.

Loupart hopes the petition would gain enough support to be considered by Parliament.

Petitions that receive 10,000 signatures receive a government response, while those attracting 100,000 signatures can be considered for debate by MPs.

At the time of writing, the petition had attracted 252 signatures.

While he said there was still a long road ahead in his recovery, Loupart said he hoped to ride a motorcycle again one day.

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