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Road Safety Bill [HL]

I plead with the Minister to think very carefully about this. I am advised that the Institute of Advanced Motorists has done research which indicates that 50 per cent of motorway drivers do not stop for two hours and 25 per cent do not stop for four hours; that is, driving on a continuous run along a motorway. It is essential that we do everything that we can to encourage people to take a break. I think that everyone associated in any way with the roads would endorse that. However, existing motorway service areas are already centres of crime. They are attended; they have good lighting; they have quite stringent entry barriers; and they stop people parking. Yet, they are crime hotspots—certainly in the police authority with which I am associated. In fact, one service station that I have in mind is employing PCSOs. We know exactly when they are not there because the incidence of crime leaps upwards. Unattended motorway rest areas will be centres of crime unless they are properly supervised. By that, I mean better supervised than the present motorway service areas. In addition, the areas have to be kept clean. They are, of course, rather difficult for local authorities to look after. Some of them are in quite remote places. They must not become centres for dumping unused cars, for fly-tipping and for other nefarious activities conducted by various sections of the population. The idea that people have to take a break is thoroughly laudable. I will go along absolutely with that. But the proposals, as they are described in the Bill, fall short of very many standards that we would want to achieve. I hope that the Minister will think about this issue before Report and perhaps come back with more detail about what is proposed. Existing motorway service operators at least know something about the areas. The local authorities do not know much about them. The police know a bit about them because they are called to deal with crime. But we should learn from experience abroad. This has been, as it were, popped into the Bill without adequate thought having been given to it.