§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the Government's response to the consultation on road traffic penalties; what plans he has to introduce an offence of negligent driving; what will constitute negligent driving for the purposes of the offence; and if he will make a statement. [69785]
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§ Mr. Bob AinsworthWe aim to publish the Government's response to the consultation exercise on road traffic penalties before the summer recess.
There are no plans to introduce a negligent driving charge. However, one of the recommendations in the research report "Dangerous Driving and the Law" (Road Safety Research Report No. 26) commissioned by the Department for Transport, is that the Government should consult on the creation of an intermediate offence to deal with driving behaviour not amounting to Dangerous Driving but significantly more serious than Careless Driving, with more severe penalties than the lesser offence, including imprisonment.
We are currently considering this recommendation and whether changes in the law or its administration are needed.
§ Mark TamiTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers police forces have in respect of road traffic offences carried out on unadopted roads. [70400]
§ Mr. Bob AinsworthRoad traffic legislation applies to all roads, defined as any highway or other road to which the public has access. It would be for the courts to decide whether any particular unadopted road was one to which the public had access. Where the public does have access to such a road, the police are able to use their full range of powers to enforce road traffic legislation.