[Metrobeans]

B433 - Heavy Goods Vehicles Safety Bill, TSR Labour

Heavy Goods Vehicles Safety Bill

An act to make provision requiring the fitting of equipment to heavy goods vehicles to eliminate driver blind spots; to make other provisions relating to the safety of cyclists, pedestrians and other road users; and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by The Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Commons in this present Parliament assembled, in accordance with the provisions of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

1. Fitting and use of equipment
(1) Within 12 months of this bill being passed, the following will happen:

(a) require the fitting of equipment to heavy goods vehicles to eliminate
driver blindspots and aid driver awareness of cyclists, pedestrians and
other road users in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle;
(b) make other regulations to ensure drivers are trained in using safety
equipment as fitted to their vehicles, to improve the safety of cyclists,
pedestrians and other road users;
(c) impose penalties on haulage operators for—

(i) failure to fit at least one piece of equipment; and

(ii) failure to ensure drivers are fully trained in the use of such
equipment.

(2) An order under subsection (1) may include but is not limited to the following
equipment—

(a) cameras and thermal imaging equipment;
(b) sensors;
(c) proximity detection and warning devices;
(d) other driver assistance and safety systems.

2. Orders and regulations

Orders and regulations made under this Act are to be made by statutory
instrument and are to be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of
either House of Parliament.

3. Commencement, short title and extent
1. This bill shall extend to England; and
2. Shall come into force on the 1st August 2012 following Royal Assent; and
3. Shall be provided to the Welsh Assembly Government for their consideration; and
4. Subject to changes made by the National Assembly for Wales; and
5. Subject to an affirmative vote shall come into force on the 1st August 2012 following Royal Assent.

Notes

1) The cost of thermal imaging cameras & additional cameras each range from £900.00 - £4,000 - not all vehicles will have thermal imaging cameras.
2) The cost of sensors can be as little as £30.00 - car manufacturers charge between £300.00 - £700.00.
3) The cost of proximity detection warning devices can be between £100.00 - £700.00.
4) Any other devices can have a varied cost.

[toronto353]

The structure of this Bill is rather poor as too is the formatting. I don't think that you can 'eliminate' blind spots entirely. We only have one House of Parliament at the moment so 2 just is irrelevant and is poorly researched. Is the Labour party proposing that private companies pay for this or do they intend to provide support for companies clobbered by yet more regulation and yet more costs. How much will the training cost? How much training do they need? It's a poorly thought out Bill and I'm voting no.

[Rakas21]

Seems a bit nanny stateish but i shall make a judgement when it goes to vote.

You need to specify what penalties would be put on hauliers.

[mevidek]

Yep.

[Mr Dangermouse]

Aye

[tehFrance]

What an expensive hinderance, no.

[internetguru]

Really come on I joined government for interesting bills and debates this is just another typical mickey mouse idea that nobody cares about. It is a no from me.

[xXedixXx]

(Original post by tehFrance)
What an expensive hinderance, no.

From £30 per vehicle?

[toronto353]

(Original post by xXedixXx)
From £30 per vehicle?

See Notes of your party's Bill. I think £30 is highly optimistic if those figures are per vehicle.

[xXedixXx]

(Original post by toronto353)
See Notes of your party's Bill. I think £30 is highly optimistic if those figures are per vehicle.

That's where I got the figure from. I'm sure £30 -> £100 per vehicle for parking sensors is quite achievable; not sure it's that "expensive" for haulage companies.

[Rakas21]

Rather than amend existing vehicles pushing the cost to the haulage firm, why not propose laws on new vehicles so that the vehicle firm can benefit from economies of style and altering their design, thus having a much smaller impact in terms of cost.

[Norton1]

On the one hand it says blind spots are to be eliminated and on the other it requires that at least one piece of additional equipment is fitted? If it's the former the second is redundant and if it's the latter the first is inaccurate.

[tehFrance]

(Original post by xXedixXx)
From £30 per vehicle?

For a max of £5,400 per vehicle, yeah that is cheap.

[xXedixXx]

(Original post by tehFrance)
For a max of £5,400 per vehicle, yeah that is cheap.

Why would a private company choose to go for the most expensive options?

[tehFrance]

(Original post by xXedixXx)
Why would a private company choose to go for the most expensive options?

Because it is an option to? but still it is an expensive hinderance.

[xXedixXx]

(Original post by tehFrance)
Because it is an option to? but still it is an expensive hinderance.

If a company chose to do something that would be such a hindrance upon themselves by choosing to go for the most expensive options and their company went bust as a result then surely due to the nature of the free market (which I would of thought you would believe in, being a tory 'n all) that would be right and correct, because the directors of the company were incompetent. This Bill in no way forces companies to go for the most expensive options and so your point has no relevance.

[tehFrance]

(Original post by xXedixXx)
This Bill in no way forces companies to go for the most expensive options and so your point has no relevance.

Doesn't matter, you are asking for them to pay for something that doesn't really matter. HGVs are fine where I am, it is an additional hinderance on those that are careful drivers. Concentrate on getting bad drivers off the road rather than penalising those that are careful.

[toronto353]

(Original post by xXedixXx)
That's where I got the figure from. I'm sure £30 -> £100 per vehicle for parking sensors is quite achievable; not sure it's that "expensive" for haulage companies.

With fuel tax rises, it's an unnecessary additional cost. The fact is that this probably isn't a major concern yet it's part of the Left's attempt to wrap everyone in cotton wool and legislate against accidents. Accidents are tragic, but we shouldn't legislate in a reactionary manner.

[MacDaddi]

Drivers have blind spots too, how are you going to solve that? Lasers?

[CyclopsRock]

Yay, more regulation.

"make other regulations to ensure drivers are trained in using safety
equipment as fitted to their vehicles, to improve the safety of cyclists,
pedestrians and other road users;"

Sounds... detailed.