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Road Safety Bill [HL]

I apologise for coming in again, but the Minister makes a point that it is in a case of obvious and serious wrongdoing that the six points would be imposed. The Bill is so drafted that it refers only to a duty to give information as to the identity of the driver, and is drafted in a way which could cover the position that he is concerned about, where there is an incentive, but could equally well cover the innocent circumstance that I referred to. I agree with the noble Lord that in the best world—and it sometimes is the best world—the police do come round and give you a second chance and consequently the situation does not arise unless you are dishonest. But we have an automatic penalty of quite a serious nature in practice in circumstances which can cover both wrongdoing and innocent carelessness. That is the danger of automatic penalties and I ask the Minister to invite the department to think again.