Helmet-wearing is rare in this nation of bike riders but authorities are pushing people to think again

When 42-year-old Myrthe Boss gets on her bike to go shopping in the Dutch town of Ede, she pops on a helmet. This act, considered essential in many countries, marks Boss out as something of a radical in the Netherlands, where helmet-wearing is rare.

Now, however, faced with rising number of traffic deaths linked in particular to older riders and e-bikes, the Dutch government and provinces – not to mention neurologists like Boss – are pushing for cyclists to think again.

Relatives of motorcyclist killed in 2019 are looking forward to ‘working with next government’ on public inquiry

The parents of Harry Dunn, a teenage motorcyclist killed in a road collision, accused the US of “obstructing” their son’s inquest, as they said they were looking forward to working with the next Westminster government to establish a public inquiry.

No representative of the US embassy nor the driver responsible, the American Anne Sacoolas, attended the four-day inquest, which concluded on Thursday. The absences prompted the Dunn family’s spokesperson, Radd Seiger, to say Washington’s position was that “lives of UK citizens like Harry ultimately do not matter”.

Party pledges to defer new A27 bypass to fund repairs and break down planning barriers to facilitate upgrades

Labour has pledged to fix 1m potholes every year if elected on 4 July and turn the tide on the “neglect” of the UK’s roads.

Last year pothole damage cost drivers almost £500m, with the average damage worth £250, the party has claimed.