HC Deb 29 October 2003 vol 412 cc268-9W
John Thurso

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which proposals contained in his Department's road safety strategy require primary legislation; and in which legislation(a) they have been enacted and (b) he plans to enact them in each case. [133880]

Mr. Jamieson

The following primary legislation foreseen in the Government's road safety strategy "Tomorrow's Roads—Safer for Everyone" has been enacted as followsFigures in square brackets [3] refer to the relevant chapter of the road safety strategy [2] Change legislation on school crossing patrols, Transport Act 2000 [3] Introducing mandatory logbooks for learner car drivers (to include night-time driving), Transport Act 2000 [4] Strengthen police powers for roadside testing, accommodating drug screening devices and providing for drug recognition and impairment testing, Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 [7] Tighten the seat belt exemption for people on "local rounds of deliveries", Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 [10] Develop new technology which could help enforce the law more effectively e.g. digital breath-testing and drug-testing devices, Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003

The following proposals await a suitable legislative opportunity: [3 & 8] Improvement of driver training and testing [4] Introduce evidential roadside breath-testing [4] Repeal UK driversl hours rules in favour of EU rules (pending outcome of European negotiations) [10] Provide for driver improvement schemes as a court disposal [10] Amend road traffic penalties in the light of Home Office Review of Road Traffic Penalties

After research and consultation with local authorities the following are deemed no longer to require primary legislation and the Government has no current plans to implement them. [6] Creation of a hierarchy of roads by road usage [6] Development of a simpler method of making speed limits by reference to a speed management strategy

The Government also considers that primary legislation may not be necessary for the following and has no plan to pursue it: [4] Giving police additional powers to undertake targeted breath testing