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Road Safety Bill [HL]

I have rather more sympathy for the amendment, but I am concerned about the need for a competitive market in this material. The market appears to be dominated by one supplier and I have found the material to be rather expensive for what it is. I could use it on some of my equipment, but the cost deters me. Before accepting the principle of the amendment, I urge the Minister to review the market. She needs to see at least three manufacturers and several wholesalers. However, I am absolutely convinced that the reflective tape is extremely effective. I do not believe that we need a few reflective plates on the side of a vehicle, as we have on the rear, but that the whole outline of HGVs should be covered in the material. In a side-impact accident, the motorist does not realise that a lorry is in front of him. As on the first day in Committee, other Members have made the precise point that I wanted to make. The noble Viscount, Lord Simon, spoke of the possibility of a road-traffic accident, immediately after which there are no vehicle lights. It is therefore easy to run into the remains of that accident. There is also the possibility of a total electrical failure on a goods vehicle. The amendment tabled by the noble Viscount, Lord Simon, seeks immediately to make it a requirement for all HGV vehicles to be fitted with retro-reflective tape—