Road Safety Bill [HL]

As this is such a big group of amendments, perhaps I may just add that the Minister referred to the expense and clutter produced by the plethora of signs which would be required. On the roads concerned the local authorities are buying all sorts of   signs which say, ““Think””, ““Reduce your speed””, everything except what speed you are supposed to be doing because that is prohibited under the regulations. There are six or seven of these signs which are available to buy. They are fluorescent and can be attached to a lamppost. The one significant piece of information which is missing is to tell you how fast you are allowed to go. The Minister is underestimating first, the willingness of local authorities to pay for the 30 mph signs and, secondly, the fact that we have said ““shall”” in this amendment but it may be more appropriate to insert ““may””—that they ““may”” do it, because that would settle a lot of this argument. We are grateful for what she has said in her answer to Amendment No. 79 about country lanes and we will certainly take the opportunity to discuss the matter with officials before Report, and see whether we can make any progress. For the time being we will not move our amendments, but I am sure that she is well aware that we are anything but satisfied with many of the answers we have received. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 78 to 83A not moved.] Clause 18 agreed to.