Road Safety Bill [HL]

I thank the Minister for her clear recognition of the fact that 20 mph zones have already proved their worth. Those zones have also saved many   lives. On the other hand, a default speed limit still gives local authorities flexibility, as the noble Lord, Lord   Berkeley, emphasised. Local authorities are free to set higher limits as relevant. However, here I also take the point of my noble friends Lady Gardner of Parkes and   Lord Hanningfield. Certainly, we do not want the   default system to impose limits unnecessarily—establishing 20   mph zones where they are not required—and we do not want them to impose some practice throughout the day if that might be relevant for only part of the day. A default speed limit, if we were to deploy it, could possibly too restrictive a means, in which case we should not deploy it. Yet my purpose in tabling the amendment was to recommend some form of balanced approach to the problem, of which a default system might be one of many. As such, I continue to recommend it, along with   its alternatives, to the Minister for further consideration. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 17 [Exemptions from speed limits]: