Road Safety Bill [HL]

House of Commons

Session 2005 - 06
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Other Bills before Parliament

Road Safety Bill [HL]

Road Safety Bill [HL]
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Exemptions from speed limits
For section 87 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27) (exemption of fire,
ambulance and police vehicles from speed limits) substitute—
“87
Exemptions from speed limits
(1)
No statutory provision imposing a speed limit on motor vehicles shall
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apply to any vehicle on an occasion when—
(a)
it is being used for fire and rescue authority purposes or for or
in connection with the exercise of any function of a relevant
authority as defined in section 6 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005,
for ambulance purposes or for police or Serious Organised
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Crime Agency purposes,
(b)
it is being used for other prescribed purposes in such
circumstances as may be prescribed, or
(c)
it is being used for training persons to drive vehicles for use for
any of the purposes mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) above,
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if the observance of that provision would be likely to hinder the use of
the vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used on that occasion.
(2)
Subsection (1) above does not apply unless the vehicle is being driven
by a person who—
(a)
has satisfactorily completed a course of training in the driving
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of vehicles at high speed provided in accordance with
regulations under this section, or
(b)
is driving the vehicle as part of such a course.
(3)
The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about
courses of training in the driving of vehicles at high speed.
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(4)
The regulations may include—
(a)
provision about the nature of courses,
(b)
provision for the approval by the Secretary of State of persons
providing courses or giving instruction on courses and the
withdrawal of approvals (including provision for appeals
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against refusal and withdrawal of approvals),
(c)
provision specifying the maximum fees that a person may be
required to pay for a course,
(d)
provision for the training or assessment, or the supervision of
the training or assessment, of persons providing courses or
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giving instruction on courses,
(e)
provision for the evidencing of the successful completion of
courses,
(f)
provision authorising the Secretary of State to make available
information about persons providing courses or giving
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instruction on courses, and
(g)
provision treating courses of training in the driving of vehicles
at high speed which have been completed before the coming
into force of the regulations as if they had been provided in
accordance with the regulations.
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(5)
The regulations may include provision for the charging of reasonable
fees in respect of any function conferred or imposed on the Secretary of
State by the regulations.

Road Safety Bill [HL]
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(6)
The regulations may make different provision—
(a)
for different classes of vehicle,
(b)
for different descriptions of persons, or
(c)
otherwise for different circumstances.”
New offences
5
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Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving
(1)
In the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52), after section 2A insert—
“2B
Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving

A person who causes the death of another person by driving a
mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place without
10
due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other
persons using the road or place, is guilty of an offence.”
(2)
In section 24(1) of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c. 53) (alternative
verdicts), in the Table—
(a)
in the entry relating to section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (causing
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death by dangerous driving), in the second column, after “Section 2
(dangerous driving)” insert “Section 2B (causing death by careless, or
inconsiderate, driving)”,
(b)
after the entry relating to section 2 of that Act insert—

“Section 2B (causing
Section 3

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death by careless, or
(careless, and

inconsiderate, driving)
inconsiderate,

driving)”,

(c)
in the entry relating to section 3A of that Act (causing death by careless
driving when under influence of drink or drugs), in the second column,
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before “Section 3 (careless, and inconsiderate, driving)” insert “Section
2B (causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving)”.
(3)
In Schedule 1 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (offences to which certain
sections apply), after the entry relating to section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988
insert—
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“RTA section 2B
Causing death by careless,
Sections 11 and 12(1) of this

or inconsiderate, driving.
Act.”

(4)
In Part 1 of Schedule 2 to that Act (prosecution and punishment of offences:
offences under the Traffic Acts), after the entry relating to section 2 of the Road
Traffic Act 1988 insert—
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“RTA section 2B
Causing death
(a) Summarily.
(a) The statutory
Obligatory.
Obligatory.
  3-11”

by careless, or

maximum.

inconsiderate,



driving.
(b) On indictment.
(b) 5 years or a

fine or both.

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(5)
In sections 16(1)(a)(ii) and 17(1)(b) and (2)(b) of the Coroners Act 1988 (c. 13)
(informing coroners)—
(a)
after “1” insert “, 2B”, and
(b)
after “dangerous driving” insert “, careless driving”.
(6)
In paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 to the Crime (International Co-operation) Act
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2003 (c. 32) (offences where notice must be given to authority of State in which
offender is normally resident), after paragraph (b) insert—
“(ba)
section 2B (causing death by careless, or inconsiderate,
driving),”.
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Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured drivers
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(1)
In the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52), after section 3ZA (inserted by section 30)
insert—
“3ZB
Causing death by driving: unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured
drivers

A person is guilty of an offence under this section if he causes the death
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of another person by driving a motor vehicle on a road and, at the time
when he is driving, the circumstances are such that he is committing an
offence under—
(a)
section 87(1) of this Act (driving otherwise than in accordance
with a licence),
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(b)
section 103(1)(b) of this Act (driving while disqualified), or
(c)
section 143 of this Act (using motor vehicle while uninsured or
unsecured against third party risks).”
(2)
In Schedule 1 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c. 53) (offences to which
certain sections apply), after the entry relating to section 3 of the Road Traffic
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Act 1988 insert—

“RTA section 3ZB
Causing death by driving:
Sections 11 and 12(1) of this

unlicensed, disqualified or
Act.”

uninsured drivers.

(3)
In Part 1 of Schedule 2 to that Act (prosecution and punishment of offences:
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offences under the Traffic Acts), after the entry relating to section 3 of the Road
Traffic Act 1988 insert—

“RTA section 3ZB
Causing death
(a) Summarily.
(a) 12 months (in
Obligatory.
Obligatory.
  3-11”

by driving:

England and

unlicensed,

Wales) or 6

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disqualified or

months (in

uninsured

Scotland) or the

drivers.

statutory


maximum or both.

(b) On indictment.
(b) 2 years or a

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fine or both.

(4)
In sections 16(1)(a)(ii) and 17(1)(b) and (2)(b) of the Coroners Act 1988
(informing coroners)—
(a)
before “or 3A” insert “, 3ZB”, and

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(b)
before “or careless” insert “, unlicensed, disqualified or uninsured
drivers”.
(5)
In paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 to the Crime (International Co-operation) Act
2003 (c. 32) (offences where notice must be given to authority of State in which
offender is normally resident), after paragraph (c) insert—
5
“(ca)
section 3ZB (causing death by driving: unlicensed,
disqualified or uninsured drivers),”.
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Offence of keeping vehicle which does not meet insurance requirements
(1)
In the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52), after section 144 insert—
“144A
  Offence of keeping vehicle which does not meet insurance
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requirements
(1)
If a motor vehicle registered under the Vehicle Excise and Registration
Act 1994 does not meet the insurance requirements, the person in
whose name the vehicle is registered is guilty of an offence.
(2)
For the purposes of this section a vehicle meets the insurance
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requirements if—
(a)
it is covered by a such a policy of insurance or such a security in
respect of third party risks as complies with the requirements of
this Part of this Act, and
(b)
either of the following conditions is satisfied.
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(3)
The first condition is that the policy or security, or the certificate of
insurance or security which relates to it, identifies the vehicle by its
registration mark as a vehicle which is covered by the policy or
security.
(4)
The second condition is that the vehicle is covered by the policy or
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security because—
(a)
the policy or security covers any vehicle, or any vehicle of a
particular description, the owner of which is a person named in
the policy or security or in the certificate of insurance or security
which relates to it, and
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(b)
the vehicle is owned by that person.
(5)
For the purposes of this section a vehicle is covered by a policy of
insurance or security if the policy of insurance or security is in force in
relation to the use of the vehicle.
144B
Exceptions to section 144A offence
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(1)
A person (“the registered keeper”) in whose name a vehicle which does
not meet the insurance requirements is registered at any particular time
(“the relevant time”) does not commit an offence under section 144A of
this Act at that time if any of the following conditions are satisfied.
(2)
The first condition is that at the relevant time the vehicle is owned as
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described—
(a)
in subsection (1) of section 144 of this Act, or
(b)
in paragraph (a), (b), (da), (db), (dc) or (g) of subsection (2) of
that section,

Road Safety Bill [HL]
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(whether or not at the relevant time it is being driven as described in
that provision).
(3)
The second condition is that at the relevant time the vehicle is owned
with the intention that it should be used as described in paragraph (c),
(d), (e) or (f) of section 144(2) of this Act.
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(4)
The third condition is that the registered keeper—
(a)
is not at the relevant time the person keeping the vehicle, and
(b)
if previously he was the person keeping the vehicle, he has by
the relevant time complied with any requirements under
subsection (7)(a) below that he is required to have complied
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with by the relevant or any earlier time.
(5)
The fourth condition is that—
(a)
the registered keeper is at the relevant time the person keeping
the vehicle,
(b)
at the relevant time the vehicle is not used on a road or other
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public place, and
(c)
the registered keeper has by the relevant time complied with
any requirements under subsection (7)(a) below that he is
required to have complied with by the relevant or any earlier
time.
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(6)
The fifth condition is that—
(a)
the vehicle has been stolen before the relevant time,
(b)
the vehicle has not been recovered by the relevant time, and
(c)
any requirements under subsection (7)(b) below that, in
connection with the theft, are required to have been complied
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with by the relevant or any earlier time have been complied
with by the relevant time.
(7)
Regulations may make provision—
(a)
for the purposes of subsection (4)(b) and (5)(c) above, requiring
a person in whose name a vehicle is registered to furnish such
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particulars and make such declarations as may be prescribed,
and to do so at such times and in such manner as may be
prescribed, and
(b)
for the purposes of subsection (6)(c) above, as to the persons to
whom, the times at which and the manner in which the theft of
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a vehicle is to be notified.
(8)
Regulations may make provision amending this section for the purpose
of providing for further exceptions to section 144A of this Act (or
varying or revoking any such further exceptions).
(9)
A person accused of an offence under section 144A of this Act is not
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entitled to the benefit of an exception conferred by or under this section
unless evidence is adduced that is sufficient to raise an issue with
respect to that exception; but where evidence is so adduced it is for the
prosecution to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the exception does
not apply.
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