Road Safety Bill [HL]

House of Commons

Session 2005 - 06
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

Road Safety Bill [HL]

Road Safety Bill [HL]
35

(a)
an offence under section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (causing
death by dangerous driving),
(b)
an offence under section 2 of that Act (dangerous driving),
(c)
an offence under section 3A of that Act (causing death by
careless driving when under influence of drink or drugs), and
5
(d)
an offence under section 35 of the Offences against the Person
Act 1861 (furious driving).”
Attendance on courses
34
Penalty points
(1)
The Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c. 53) is amended as follows.
10
(2)
In section 29 (penalty points to be taken into account on conviction), after
subsection (2) insert—
“(2A)
Subsection (1)(b) above has effect subject to section 30A(4) of this Act.”
(3)
After section 30 insert—
“30A
Reduced penalty points for attendance on course
15
(1)
This section applies where—
(a)
a person is convicted of a specified offence by or before a court,
(b)
penalty points are to be attributed to the offence and the court
does not order him to be disqualified, and
(c)
at least seven but no more than eleven penalty points are to be
20
taken into account on the occasion of the conviction.
(2)
In this section “specified offence” means—
(a)
an offence under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (careless,
and inconsiderate, driving),
(b)
an offence under section 36 of that Act (failing to comply with
25
traffic signs),
(c)
an offence under section 17(4) of the Road Traffic Regulation
Act 1984 (use of special road contrary to scheme or regulations),
or
(d)
an offence under section 89(1) of that Act (exceeding speed
30
limit).
(3)
But the Secretary of State may by regulations amend subsection (2)
above by adding other offences or removing offences.
(4)
Where this section applies, the court may make an order that three of
the penalty points attributed to the offence (or all of them if three or
35
fewer are so attributed) shall not be taken into account under section
29(1)(b) of this Act on the occasion of any conviction of an offence after
the end of the period of twelve months beginning with the date of the
order if, by the relevant date, the offender completes an approved
course specified in the order.
40
(5)
In subsection (4) above—
“an approved course” means a course approved by the
appropriate national authority for the purposes of this section

Road Safety Bill [HL]
36

in relation to the description of offence of which the offender is
convicted, and
“the relevant date” means such date, no later than ten months after
the day on which the order is made, as is specified in the order.
(6)
A court shall not make an order under this section in the case of an
5
offender convicted of an offence if—
(a)
the offender has, during the period of three years ending with
the date on which the offence was committed, committed a
specified offence and successfully completed an approved
course pursuant to an order made under this section or section
10
34A of this Act on conviction of that offence, or
(b)
the offence was committed during his probationary period.
(7)
A court shall not make an order under this section in the case of an
offender unless—
(a)
the court is satisfied that a place on the course specified in the
15
order will be available for the offender,
(b)
the offender appears to the court to be of or over the age of 17,
(c)
the court has informed the offender (orally or in writing and in
ordinary language) of the effect of the order and of the amount
of the fees which he is required to pay for the course and when
20
he must pay them, and
(d)
the offender has agreed that the order should be made.
30B
Certificates of completion of courses
(1)
An offender shall be regarded for the purposes of section 30A of this
Act as having completed a course satisfactorily if (and only if) a
25
certificate that he has done so is received by the proper officer of the
supervising court.
(2)
A course provider must give a certificate under subsection (1) above to
the offender not later than fourteen days after the date specified in the
order as the latest date for the completion of the course unless the
30
offender—
(a)
fails to make due payment of fees for the course,
(b)
fails to attend the course in accordance with the course
provider’s reasonable instructions, or
(c)
fails to comply with any other reasonable requirement of the
35
course provider.
(3)
A certificate under subsection (1) above is to be given by the course
provider and shall be in such form, and contain such particulars, as
may be prescribed by, or determined in accordance with, regulations
made by the appropriate national authority.
40
(4)
Where a course provider decides not to give a certificate under
subsection (1) above to the offender, he shall give written notice of the
decision to the offender as soon as possible, and in any event not later
than fourteen days after the date specified in the order as the latest date
for completion of the course.
45
(5)
An offender to whom a notice is given under subsection (4) above may,
within such period as may be prescribed by rules of court, apply to the
supervising court, or (if the supervising court is not the Crown Court,

Road Safety Bill [HL]
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the High Court of Justiciary or the relevant local court) to either the
supervising court or the relevant local court, for a declaration that the
course provider’s decision not to give a certificate under subsection (1)
above was contrary to subsection (2) above.
(6)
If the court grants the application, section 30A of this Act shall have
5
effect as if the certificate had been duly received by the proper officer of
the supervising court.
(7)
If fourteen days after the date specified in the order as the latest date for
completion of the course the course provider has given neither the
certificate under subsection (1) above nor a notice under subsection (4)
10
above, the offender may, within such period as may be prescribed by
rules of court, apply to the supervising court, or (if the supervising
court is not the Crown Court, the High Court of Justiciary or the
relevant local court) to either the supervising court or the relevant local
court, for a declaration that the course provider is in default.
15
(8)
If the court grants the application, section 30A of this Act shall have
effect as if the certificate had been duly received by the proper officer of
the supervising court.
(9)
A notice under subsection (4) above shall specify the ground on which
it is given; and the appropriate national authority may by regulations
20
make provision as to the form of notices under that subsection and as
to the circumstances in which they are to be treated as given.
(10)
Where the proper office of a court receives a certificate under
subsection (1) above, or a court grants an application under subsection
(5) or (7) above, the proper officer or court must send notice of that fact
25
to the Secretary of State; and the notice must be sent in such manner
and to such address, and must contain such particulars, as the Secretary
of State may determine.
30C
Approval of courses
(1)
If an application is made to the appropriate national authority for the
30
approval of a course for the purposes of section 30A of this Act, the
appropriate national authority must decide whether to grant or refuse
the application.
(2)
In reaching that decision the appropriate national authority must have
regard to—
35
(a)
the nature of the course, and
(b)
whether the course provider is an appropriate person to
provide the course and administer its provision efficiently and
effectively,

and may take into account any recommendations made by any persons
40
appointed to consider the application.
(3)
A course may be approved subject to conditions specified by the
appropriate national authority.
(4)
An approval of a course is for the period specified by the appropriate
national authority (which must not exceed seven years), subject to
45
withdrawal of approval.

Road Safety Bill [HL]
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(5)
Regulations made by the appropriate national authority may make
provision in relation to the approval of courses and may, in particular,
include provision—
(a)
in relation to the making of applications for approval,
(b)
for the payment in respect of applications for approval, or of
5
approvals, (or of both) of fees of such amounts as are prescribed
by the regulations,
(c)
specifying the maximum fees that a person may be required to
pay for a course and by when they are to be paid,
(d)
for the monitoring of courses and course providers,
10
(e)
in relation to withdrawing approval,
(f)
for an appeal to lie to the Transport Tribunal against a refusal of
an application for approval, the imposition of conditions on the
grant of such an application or the withdrawal of approval, and
(g)
authorising the appropriate national authority to make
15
available (with or without charge) information about courses
and course providers.
30D
Provisions supplementary to sections 30A to 30C
(1)
The appropriate national authority may issue guidance to course
providers, or to any category of course provider, as to the conduct of
20
courses approved for the purposes of section 30A of this Act; and—
(a)
course providers shall have regard to any guidance given to
them under this subsection, and
(b)
in determining for the purposes of section 30B of this Act
whether any instructions or requirements of a course provider
25
were reasonable, a court shall have regard to any guidance
given to him under this subsection.
(2)
The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision—
(a)
amending section 30A(1)(c) of this Act by substituting for the
lower number of penalty points for the time being specified
30
there a different number of penalty points, or
(b)
amending section 30A(6)(a) of this Act by substituting for the
period for the time being specified there a different period.
(3)
In sections 30A to 30C of this Act and this section—
“appropriate national authority” means (as respects Wales) the
35
National Assembly for Wales and (otherwise) the Secretary of
State;
“course provider”, in relation to a course, means the person by
whom it is, or is to be, provided;
“probationary period” has the meaning given in section 1 of the
40
Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995;
“proper officer” means—
(a)
in relation to a magistrates’ court in England and Wales,
the designated officer for the court, and
(b)
otherwise, the clerk of the court;
45
“relevant local court”, in relation to an order made under section
30A of this Act in the case of an offender, means—
(a)
in England and Wales, a magistrates’ court acting for the
local justice area in which the offender resides, and

Road Safety Bill [HL]
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(b)
in Scotland, the sheriff court for the district where the
offender resides or, where the order is made by a
stipendiary magistrate and the offender resides within
his commission area, the district court for that area; and
“supervising court”, in relation to an order under section 30A of
5
this Act, means—
(a)
in England and Wales, if the Crown Court made the
order the Crown Court and otherwise a magistrates’
court acting for the same local justice area as the court
which made the order, and
10
(b)
in Scotland, the court which made the order.
(4)
Any power to make regulations under section 30A, 30B or 30C of this
Act or this section includes power to make different provision for
different cases, and to make such incidental or supplementary
provision as appears to the appropriate national authority to be
15
necessary or appropriate.
(5)
Any power to make regulations under section 30A, 30B or 30C of this
Act or this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.
(6)
No regulations shall be made under section 30A of this Act or this
section unless a draft of the regulations has been laid before, and
20
approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
(7)
A statutory instrument containing regulations made under section 30B
or 30C of this Act by the Secretary of State shall be subject to annulment
in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.”
35
Reduced disqualification period for attendance on course
25
For sections 34A to 34C of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c. 53)
substitute—
“34A
Reduced disqualification for attendance on courses
(1)
This section applies where—
(a)
a person is convicted of a relevant drink offence or a specified
30
offence by or before a court, and
(b)
the court makes an order under section 34 of this Act
disqualifying him for a period of not less than twelve months.
(2)
In this section “relevant drink offence” means—
(a)
an offence under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 3A of
35
the Road Traffic Act 1988 (causing death by careless driving
when unfit to drive through drink) committed when unfit to
drive through drink,
(b)
an offence under paragraph (b) of that subsection (causing
death by careless driving with excess alcohol),
40
(c)
an offence under paragraph (c) of that subsection (failing to
provide a specimen) where the specimen is required in
connection with drink or consumption of alcohol,
(d)
an offence under section 4 of that Act (driving or being in charge
when under influence of drink) committed by reason of
45
unfitness through drink,

Road Safety Bill [HL]
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(e)
an offence under section 5(1) of that Act (driving or being in
charge with excess alcohol),
(f)
an offence under section 7(6) of that Act (failing to provide a
specimen) committed in the course of an investigation into an
offence within any of the preceding paragraphs, or
5
(g)
an offence under section 7A(6) of that Act (failing to allow a
specimen to be subjected to a laboratory test) in the course of an
investigation into an offence within any of the preceding
paragraphs.
(3)
In this section “specified offence” means—
10
(a)
an offence under section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (careless,
and inconsiderate, driving),
(b)
an offence under section 36 of that Act (failing to comply with
traffic signs),
(c)
an offence under section 17(4) of the Road Traffic Regulation
15
Act 1984 (use of special road contrary to scheme or regulations),
or
(d)
an offence under section 89(1) of that Act (exceeding speed
limit).
(4)
But the Secretary of State may by regulations amend subsection (3)
20
above by adding other offences or removing offences.
(5)
Where this section applies, the court may make an order that the period
of disqualification imposed under section 34 of this Act (“the
unreduced period”) shall be reduced if, by the relevant date, the
offender satisfactorily completes an approved course specified in the
25
order.
(6)
In subsection (5) above—
“an approved course” means a course approved by the
appropriate national authority for the purposes of this section
in relation to the description of offence of which the offender is
30
convicted, and
“the relevant date” means such date, at least two months before
the last day of the period of disqualification as reduced by the
order, as is specified in the order.
(7)
The reduction made in a period of disqualification by an order under
35
this section is a period specified in the order of—
(a)
not less than three months, and
(b)
not more than one quarter of the unreduced period,

(and, accordingly, where the unreduced period is twelve months, the
reduced period is nine months).
40
(8)
A court shall not make an order under this section in the case of an
offender convicted of a specified offence if—
(a)
the offender has, during the period of three years ending with
the date on which the offence was committed, committed a
specified offence and successfully completed an approved
45
course pursuant to an order made under this section or section
30A of this Act on conviction of that offence, or
(b)
the specified offence was committed during his probationary
period.

Road Safety Bill [HL]
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(9)
A court shall not make an order under this section in the case of an
offender unless—
(a)
the court is satisfied that a place on the course specified in the
order will be available for the offender,
(b)
the offender appears to the court to be of or over the age of 17,
5
(c)
the court has informed the offender (orally or in writing and in
ordinary language) of the effect of the order and of the amount
of the fees which he is required to pay for the course and when
he must pay them, and
(d)
the offender has agreed that the order should be made.
10
34B
Certificates of completion of courses
(1)
An offender shall be regarded for the purposes of section 34A of this
Act as having completed a course satisfactorily if (and only if) a
certificate that he has done so is received by the proper officer of the
supervising court before the end of the unreduced period.
15
(2)
If a certificate under subsection (1) above is so received before the end
of the unreduced period but after the end of the period which would
(apart from this subsection) be the reduced period, the reduced period
is to be taken to end with the day on which the certificate is so received.
(3)
A certificate under subsection (1) above is to be given by the course
20
provider and shall be in such form, and contain such particulars, as
may be prescribed by, or determined in accordance with, regulations
made by the appropriate national authority.
(4)
A course provider must give a certificate under subsection (1) above to
the offender not later than fourteen days after the date specified in the
25
order as the latest date for the completion of the course unless the
offender—
(a)
fails to make due payment of fees for the course,
(b)
fails to attend the course in accordance with the course
provider’s reasonable instructions, or
30
(c)
fails to comply with any other reasonable requirement of the
course provider.
(5)
Where a course provider decides not to give a certificate under
subsection (1) above to the offender, he shall give written notice of the
decision to the offender as soon as possible, and in any event not later
35
than fourteen days after the date specified in the order as the latest date
for completion of the course.
(6)
An offender to whom a notice is given under subsection (5) above may,
within such period as may be prescribed by rules of court, apply to the
supervising court, or (if the supervising court is not the Crown Court,
40
the High Court of Justiciary or the relevant local court) to either the
supervising court or the relevant local court, for a declaration that the
course provider’s decision not to give a certificate under subsection (1)
above was contrary to subsection (4) above.
(7)
If the court grants the application, section 34A of this Act shall have
45
effect as if the certificate had been duly received by the proper officer of
the supervising court.