Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's ability to check the competence of drivers following convictions and, in the case of older drivers, renewing their licences, (2) the rigour with which medical practitioners and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency judge medical evidence in such cases, and (3) whether the driver is effectively kept informed during these processes.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s role in the driving endorsement process, is to record information provided by the court service in Great Britain. The courts are responsible for the conviction and sentencing of individuals who commit road traffic offences. The DVLA receives notifications of driving endorsements, including penalty points and disqualifications from the courts which are then recorded on the individual’s driving licence record. The DVLA is not responsible for checking driving competence following a conviction.
Everyone renewing their driving licence at the age of 70 and above must declare any relevant medical conditions and whether they can meet the eyesight requirements for driving. It is an offence to make a false declaration. If a driver of any age notifies the DVLA of a medical condition, an investigation will be carried out. This investigation can involve requesting information from the individual’s healthcare professionals or the driving licence holder/applicant may be asked to attend a medical examination or a driving assessment.
The DVLA assesses the information obtained during a medical investigation against the medical standards of fitness to drive and only those who can meet the standards will be issued with a driving licence. Drivers who meet the standards but have medical conditions that are progressive and are likely to deteriorate will be issued with a driving licence of shorter duration so that their continuing ability to drive safely can be assessed more regularly.
The DVLA provides customers with confirmation of when the investigation has started, when further information is being requested from healthcare professionals or if drivers are required to attend an examination or driving assessment. The DVLA may also contact customers if there is a delay, when more information is needed or when a licensing decision has been made.
Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what current laws or regulations govern the (1) use, and (2) parking, of electric, and non-electric, bicycles and scooters on pedestrian pavements; and what proposals they are considering for strengthening such laws and regulations, in particular in respect of leaving undocked hire bicycles and scooters on the pavement.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
It is an offence to use a carriage (which would include a bicycle or e-bicycle) on a footway under s.72 of the Highways Act 1835. “Carriage” may also include an e-scooter, but it is also an offence under s.34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle (which would include an e-scooter, though not an e-bicycle) on the footpath. Footway and footpath are defined differently, but generally refer to what is called the pavement.
In London, it is an offence to park a vehicle on a footpath under s.15 of the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1974 unless authorised through an administrative resolution. For the purposes of this section “vehicle” means a mechanically propelled vehicle. Outside London, parking on pavements is permitted unless specifically prohibited by a local authority making a Traffic Regulation Order to that effect. The Department for Transport is currently considering consultation responses on proposals to tackle pavement parking outside London.
It is an offence under s.22 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to leave a vehicle (including bicycles, e-bicycles and e-scooters) on a road (including a pavement) in a position that carries a danger of injury to others and under s.137 of the Highways Act 1980 wilfully to obstruct passage.
Enforcement of these regulations is a matter for the police. All road users have a duty to behave in a safe, responsible manner and to follow the rules in The Highway Code.
When parliamentary time allows, the Department intends to create a new licensing framework for shared mobility operations, including bicycles, e-bicycles and e-scooters, giving local transport authorities the additional powers they need to shape and manage cycle, e-cycle and e-scooter rental schemes. This would include the ability to set rules about the management of rental cycles, e-cycles and e-scooters on the pavement.
Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to announce a new road safety action plan as recommended by the recent Road Safety Management Capacity Review commissioned by the Department for Transport.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Department for Transport intends to publish a refreshed road safety statement and the two-year road safety action plan later this year.
Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to appoint an inspector to review the compliance of the current owners Bembridge Harbour, and their related companies, with (1) the Piers and Harbour Order (Bembridge Harbour) Confirmation Act 1963, and (2) the Department for Transport's Ports good governance guide.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Secretary of State for Transport has no plans to appoint any inspector to consider matters relating to Bembridge Harbour. The Department has received correspondence from some stakeholders in respect of the harbour, which is receiving consideration and will be responded to in due course.
Asked by: Lord Whitty (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for future relationships post-Brexit between (1) UK public agencies, and (2) UK industry, and the European Aviation Safety Agency and Eurocontrol.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including the implications for continued or discontinued participation in the European Aviation Safety Agency.
The nature of the UK’s participation with the Agency as a third country will be a matter for the negotiations.
Eurocontrol is not an EU institution, so the UK will continue to be a member after our exit from the EU.