---

Road Safety Bill [HL]

I thank the noble Lord for his answer. As I said at the beginning, these are probing amendments. We very much support the idea of flexibility in the system. Everyone would agree that one   commits an offence by breaking the speed limit. However, as in other offences, there are various degrees of offence. We therefore support the Government in trying to introduce variation to the points system. As I admitted on Second Reading, I myself have points. However, I gained them by not knowing that I was in a 40 mile per hour limit. I thought that I was on a major road—the A13. Mind you that it did not happen in Essex, where speed limits are clearly sign-posted, but in London. If it had been in Essex there would not have been a problem. I thought that I was in a 40 mile per hour limit, and I was doing 38. That is why I have points. As my noble friend Lady Gardner said, it is incumbent on authorities to have the right signage and the signs need to be clear and understandable by the motorist. In tabling the amendments I was trying to get the Government’s feeling on the issue. I note what the Minister said. I agree that the matter should not be prescribed in such detail. We shall see look in Hansard to see what he said. It is a difficult issue and we do not want to be over-prescriptive. However, we want to ensure that the Bill contains the right words. With that, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 11 to 14 not moved.] Clause 2 agreed to. Clause 3 [Graduated fixed penalty points]: