Vehicles restricted by law to a speed limit of 30 miles per hour

1240/5(3630)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST CLEMENT

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 15th JANUARY 2008

Question

1. With regard to the recentmediaannouncement that any vehicle limited by law to30mphmusthenceforth display a 30mph sticker on pain of a £5000 fine, would the Minister explain why, in the two sentences that refer totherequirement within the report accompanying P.87/2007(DraftRoad Traffic (No.58)(Jersey) Regulations 200-), neither trailers nor any vehicle other than vehicles with a laden weightof3.5tonnes or over' are mentioned.

Answer

The report made reference to vehicles with a laden weight of 3.5 tonnes as this was the most significant change in relation to vehicles subject to the lower limit, brought about by those Regulations. Previously the 30 mph all Island limit applied to all vehicles over 2.5 tonnes unladen weight and vehicles drawing trailers. The accompanying explanatory note however provided the full list, as of course do the Regulations themselves, and which is as follows (medium goods vehicles have a laden weight between 3.5t and 7.5t - large goods vehicles, large passenger carrying vehicles, medium-sized goods vehicles and vehicles drawing trailers.

Question

2. Would the Minister accept that the significant number of amendmentstothe Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956 broughtaboutbyP.87/2007makesit very difficult for the laymanto fully understand the Law,as amended, and there is a possibility that members of the public could be trappedbyignorance'.

Answer

The Minister would not accept this. Previously vehicles over 2.5 tonnes unladen weight and vehicles drawing trailers were subject to the lower limit. Goods vehicles are categorised by laden weight as are licence categories. The category class C1 on a Jersey driving licence (consistent with international practice) allows the holder to drive a vehicle of over 3.5 tonnes laden weight and requires a different test to that for a car (category B). By making this change and combining it with the requirement to display a sticker, the likelihood of motorists being "trapped by ignorance" will be much reduced.

Question

3. Given the potential numberof vehicles involved,would the Minister advise whether a publicawareness presentation has been made andifnot,whynotand would heundertake to publish a comprehensiveand clear listof those vehicles affected, outlining the circumstances whencertain vehicles would beconsidered exempt?

Answer

My Department invited haulage firms and goods vehicle suppliers in the Island, to a meeting in November at which the requirements were explained. It has distributed leaflets advising of the new requirements to haulage companies, local garages and Parish Hall s. A press release has been issued, and formal notices in accordance with the legal requirements of the relevant legislation published in the Gazette. The issue also received media coverage when debated in the States in October. Further information has been available on the States website. It is not the intention to publish a list of specific vehicle makes and models which fall into the various categories as it is the responsibility of individual motorists to be aware of the category of vehicle they are driving, in order to conform with their licence. Vehicles brought into the Island for less than 3 months are exempt.

Question

4. Would the Minister give an indication astothe acceptable size, colour etcetera of the proposed sticker or notice for instances where a sticker may be inappropriate and would he explain how his reported significant benefit inour efforts to reduce road accidentnumbers' and any other benefits will be achieved by a sticker on the back of a vehicle?

Answer

Full details of the required sticker or plate are given in the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No.9) Jersey Order 2007. In short it is simply a circular sign which must be at least 150 mm in diameter displaying the numerals "30" in black on a white background. TTS ensured that a number of local suppliers would provide a supply in time for the implementation.

By displaying the 30 plate both the driver of the vehicle is reminded that he/she should not travel at speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour and following motorists will understand why the vehicle in front is travelling at 30 miles per hour on a 40 miles per hour road. Similarly, road users will be able to identify and report vehicles that are clearly exceeding the restriction.

Question

5. In view of the Minister's assertion in themedia that the 30' stickers will help to prevent accidents, will he advise howmany accidents directly related to thelackof such a disc, if any, areknownto have occurred over thelast five years?

Answer

It is impossible to assess how many accidents could be directly related to the lack of a disk, but I can inform the Deputy that, according to the States Police database, during 2006, 22 casualties were suffered from road accidents involving those types of vehicles to be subject to the lower limit. Speeding is a serious concern and often particularly in relation to large vehicles, which are generally less manoeuvrable and leave less space for other road users especially pedestrians. I believe it entirely appropriate that such vehicles are subject to a 30 mph limit, as indeed they have been for many years, and that in order to improve compliance the displaying of a "30" sticker or plate is a reasonable requirement.