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Proceeding contribution from Lord Berkeley (Labour) in the House of Lords on Monday, 4 July 2005. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Road Safety Bill [HL].


Road Safety Bill [HL]

I am sorry to hear that the cars of the noble Earl, Lord Attlee, break down so often. Perhaps it is his heavy, wide, long lorries that break down often. He is quite right that he should carry a vest, and he does do so. Noble Lords will be aware that a large percentage of lorry drivers, both delivery drivers and long-distance drivers, wear these vests all the time. It is standard practice and I suspect that they are required to do so by their contract of employment because of the safety factor. Therefore, the logic of requiring all users of cars   and motorcycles to wear them is there. But the practicalities worry me, as well as other noble Lords. If car occupants are going to have to wear vests when they get out of the car, then why not make all pedestrians wears them because drivers have become pedestrians in the process of getting out of the car? We can have an interesting debate. It is interesting to know that most lorry drivers wear vests for safety reasons. There is a significant benefit in that.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
673 c434 
Session
2005-06
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Alcoholic drinks Breathalysers Cars Cameras Bicycles Licensing Fixed penalties Exemptions Driving under influence Large goods vehicles Police Protective clothing Lighting Motorways Safety Safety measures Roads Road signs and markings Speed limits Road traffic offences
Legislation
Road Safety Bill (HL) 2005-06
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk