---

Road Safety Bill [HL]

My Lords, in a previous disposition in the other place, I had to witness the results of several very serious level crossing incidents in my then constituency in Cornwall on the branch line between Parr and Newquay. I wish to refer swiftly to the issue of costs. I hope the Minister will take account of the fact that every incident is very costly, not only in lives—as it has been on occasion in Cornwall—but costly in accidents which then cause major injury, in disruption to the rail service, which can last for several days, even for weeks and months, and in disruption on the roads. I hope that in his reply the Minister will not look simply at the costs of prevention and the costs implied by the amendment, but will also be looking at the costs of not passing the amendment.