Roads: Illegal Motorway Advertisements

Lady Saltoun of Abernethy Excerpts

Wednesday 21st July 2010 Lords Chamber

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, it is a matter for the local authority to enforce the regulations. The problem is the exploitation of the flexibility in the regulations that allows an advertisement on a vehicle to be exempt. Farmers are leaving a trailer parked in the field for months; it is very difficult for the local authorities to prosecute but it is for them to determine their priorities.

[Lady Saltoun of Abernethy]

My Lords, does the Minister agree that it is not the illegal advertisements that are dangerous and distracting to drivers—because a good driver pays no attention to them? Rather, it is the totally unnecessary and frivolous legal notices, which say things like “Please drive carefully” in lettering a little too small to be easily read.

[Earl Attlee]

My Lords, the noble Lady makes an important point but we are talking about advertisements on the strategic route network.