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A
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Bill
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To
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Provide
local traffic authorities with powers to develop urban safety
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hierarchies; to identify 20 mph zones
and Home Zones; to require the
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Secretary of State to issue guidance
on the setting of speed limits; and for
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connected purposes.
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Be
it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and
with the advice and
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consent of the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and Commons, in this present
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Parliament assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:—
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1 Urban
safety hierarchy
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(1) There
shall be a new classification of speed limits in urban areas to be known
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as the urban safety hierarchy.
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(2) This
hierarchy will set maximum speeds for different roads based on the
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existing or desired function of the
road.
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(3) Local
traffic authorities shall have the power to review urban roads for which
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they are the traffic authority and
to declare them distributor, access or
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residential roads.
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(4) Local
traffic authorities shall have the power to review the residential roads
for
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which they are responsible and to declare
certain of them home zones.
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(5) Access
and residential roads shall, under the terms of the hierarchy, have
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speed limits no higher than 20 mph.
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(6) Local
authorities shall have the power to implement speed orders in Homes
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Zones of no higher than 10 mph.
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(7) In
making declarations under subsections (3) and (4), local traffic authorities
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shall consult such individuals and
organisations as they think fit.
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(8) In
making such declarations, local traffic authorities must consider such
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guidance as is issued by the Secretary
of State.
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2 Guidance
from the Secretary of State
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(1) Within
six months of this Act coming into force, the Secretary of State shall
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issue new guidance for the setting
of urban speed limits, having regard to the
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results of research and current experience
of implementation of urban speed
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limits.
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(2) In
compiling the guidance under subsection (1), the Secretary of State shall
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consult such individuals and organisations
as he thinks fit.
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(3) It
shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to monitor and evaluate from
time
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to time the implementation of the urban
safety hierarchy and home zones
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having regard to reductions in road
casualties, increases in walking and
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cycling and improvements in air and
environmental quality.
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(4) A
copy of any evaluation under subsection (3) shall be laid before both
Houses
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of Parliament.
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3 Short,
title, extent and commencement
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(1) This
Act may be cited as the Road Safety Act 2003.
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(2) Sections
1 and 2 of this Act shall come into force on the day on which it is
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passed.
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(3) This
Act extends to England, Scotland and Wales.
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