Road Safety Bill [HL]

I rise with my president of RoSPA hat on to say that I neither support nor oppose the amendments. But I do support—I hope that my noble friend has been listening—the comments that have been made in relation to these amendments to Clause 39. RoSPA is very keen on Clause 39. As Members of the Committee have said, we recognise strongly that long periods on the road are not good either for the driver or for anyone else on the roads. The cost of lives has to be put against driving time. Some of the points raised are important. During the summer I took part in a debate on toll roads and how long drivers should and should not drive. It was particularly aimed at lorry drivers but it applies to everyone. I spoke to someone from the Highways Agency about France, where we had just been driving. As Members of the Committee have said, the facilities there are very good. She absolutely agreed, but, of course, raised the issue of toll roads. She is right: in France we were paying tolls as we went along the motorway. I am not encouraging my noble friend to announce anything about toll roads, but how we provide those picnic areas really has to be thought out, and safety is paramount.