Traffic Bill round-up
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THE Road Traffic Bill, which was receiving Royal Assent on Wednesday, has emerged, after major changes in the House of Lords, in much the same form as originally proposed by the Government.
Among minor changes are an increase in penalties, including the reintroduction of prison sentences for dangerous driving.
The Lords put back much of what the Gov the Bill as originally drafted by the previous Conservative administration.
This included provision on tachographs and bus licensing. But in the final Commons stages of the Bill, the Government succeeded in getting these Lords amendments removed.
The compulsory wearing of seat-belts provision, which remained in the Conservative version of the Bill but was thrown ernment had omitted from out of the Labour becoming law. measure by the Lords, remained outside.
The Government decided not to reintroduce the seat-belt clause, in order to ensure that the remainder of the Bill passed into law before MPs rose for the summer recess.
Tne Road Traffic Bill is almost entirely an enabling measure, giving the Minister power to make regulations, so no changes will flow from it. immediately, on it