New Clause 19 - Amendment of Road Traffic ch3Act 1988
Road Safety Bill
5:00 pm
Mr David Jamieson (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport; Plymouth, Devonport, Labour)
I fully understand and share the hon. Gentleman's interest in the use of retro-reflective tape. I note that he read the account of the Adjournment debate in which I responded to the right hon. Member for Bracknell. On the new clause, however, my bewigged lawyers inform me that we do not need primary legislation to make the alteration, but only a statutory instrument to amend section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Earlier research conducted on behalf of the Department showed the potential for the wider fitment of reflective tape to reduce accidents by increasing conspicuity. It also highlighted the disproportionate cost. That work is now several years old, and the Department is reviewing the benefits and costs of mandating the use of that material on goods vehicles, trailers and large passenger-carrying vehicles. The research project is nearing completion and the results will be made public, in accordance with our commitment to open government. It would be unwise to do anything where the benefits were outweighed by the costs of introduction, so we will await the results of the report.
For completeness, as the right hon. Member for East Yorkshire asked who in Loughborough examined the evidence, I note that it was the university's ergonomics and safety research institute. Its new buildings were opened recently by my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Reed), carrying out excellent constituency work.