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Proceeding contribution from Earl Attlee (Conservative) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 26 October 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 grateful to all noble Lords who have contributed to the debate, except for the Minister, at whose response I was not surprised, therefore I cannot be disappointed. My noble friends on the Front Bench were much wiser, because they kept quiet—no doubt because they can see which way the wind is blowing. I remind the Minister of the history of citizens’ band radio. At one point they were illegal, and then everyone started using them. The Government then, reluctantly, had to make them legal. That is the situation we could end up with—people using them in such large quantities that it becomes impractical to do anything about it. We would then have let the law come into disrepute. The Minister talked about safety, as I expected him to. What is he doing about people roller-skating at high speed on footpaths? They cannot stop themselves—they are a kinetic time bomb. Whereas, on a Segway, you just lean back and it stops very quickly indeed—probably faster than one could stop when running. I am grateful for being reminded what the 1835 Act covers. The way in which that legislation works is extremely old-fashioned. I was very surprised that it has not been incorporated into some later legislation. That is a minor matter, just something I picked up.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
674 c1276 
Session
2005-06
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Crime prevention Advertising Bus lanes Buses Cameras Cycling Fraud Fees and charges Immobilisation of vehicles Fixed penalties Level crossings Exhaust emissions Large goods vehicles Driving instruction Helmets Medical examinations Motor vehicles Pollution control Motorcycles Motorway service areas Registration Young people Working hours Safety Roads Road traffic control Testing Road signs and markings Speed limits Road traffic offences Vehicle number plates Driving licences
Legislation
Road Safety Bill (HL) 2005-06
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk