Ministers to consult on doubling legal wattage of electric bike motors – The Guardian

Posted February 29th, 2024 in consultations, electricity, news, road safety, road traffic by sally

‘Ministers are to consult on doubling the legal wattage of electric bike motors, despite concerns over road safety and the risk of deadly fires caused by batteries.’

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The Guardian, 29th February 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Harry Dunn’s family says UK still allowing Americans to escape justice as US soldier flees after crash – The Independent

‘Harry Dunn’s family have warned that something has gone “very badly wrong” for another US citizen to have been able to evade justice in the UK after alleged involvement in a car crash.’

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The Independent, 14th December 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

How Smith v Finch has been run over by a Boris bike – Gatehouse Chambers

‘Cycle helmets are likely to remain a bone of contention between PI litigants for years to come. At least, as far as social cycling is concerned. Different considerations apply to competitive and organized cycling events.’

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Gatehouse Chambers, 20th October 2023

Source: gatehouselaw.co.uk

UK autonomous vehicles law announcement anticipated – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 3rd, 2023 in artificial intelligence, Law Commission, news, road safety, transport by tracey

‘Future demand for autonomous vehicles will be significantly influenced by the extent to which legislators can simultaneously promote innovation and flexibility while addressing safety concerns in the rules they write, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 2nd November 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Blood test for sleepy drivers could pave way for prosecutions – The Guardian

Posted May 9th, 2023 in accidents, blood products, news, prosecutions, road safety by sally

‘A blood test to measure whether a driver who has caused an accident was impaired by lack of sleep could be available within two years, making it easier to legislate against drowsy drivers or their employers.’

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The Guardian, 8th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Tougher licensing rules for taxi drivers come into force – BBC News

Posted April 27th, 2023 in licensing, local government, news, road safety, standards, taxis by sally

‘Tougher rules for taxi and private hire drivers will be introduced in England in a bid to make passengers safer.’

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BBC News, 27th April 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Rishi Sunak scraps plans for new smart motorways in England – The Guardian

Posted April 17th, 2023 in government departments, news, road safety, roads by tracey

‘The building of new smart motorways is being cancelled as Rishi Sunak acknowledged concerns about safety and cost.’

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The Guardian, 15th April 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Highways: only a touch of frost – Local Government Lawyer

‘In his fourth and final article in a short series which focuses on case law which may assist in the defence of claims against Highways Authorities under s.41 of the Highways Act 1980, and inspired at least in part by the wintery weather sweeping across the country, Jack Harding focuses on snow and ice on the highway.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 17th March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Remote driving review: robust regulation needed before technology is on UK roads – Law Commission

‘The Law Commission has published advice to Government on how to regulate remote driving on UK roads.’

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Law Commission, 20th February 2023

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Highways: the ‘rule of thumb’ – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 13th, 2023 in local government, news, road safety, roads by tracey

‘In the first in a series of articles Jack Harding delves into some of the lesser-known authorities relating to the Highway Authority’s duty to maintain the highway under the Highways Act 1980.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 10th February 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

A5 Milton Keynes: Flooded road crash victim’s partner agrees pay-out – BBC News

Posted January 13th, 2023 in accidents, bereavement, compensation, damages, families, inquests, news, road safety, roads by tracey

‘The partner of a woman who died in a crash after driving into standing water on a main road has agreed an £850,000 settlement with Highways England, a court heard.’

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BBC News, 12th January 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coroner urges National Highway to improve smart motorway safety – The Independent

Posted November 4th, 2022 in accidents, coroners, news, road safety, roads by tracey

‘A senior coroner has urged National Highways to take action to improve smart motorway safety. Nicola Mundy wrote to the Government-owned company to express concern that 153 vehicles passed a stranded car before a fatal collision on one of the roads without a hard shoulder.’

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The Independent, 3rd November 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The four new driving laws now in force across the UK – The Independent

Posted October 13th, 2022 in news, pollution, road safety, road traffic, telecommunications by tracey

‘Motorists have been urged to be familiar with new driving laws that have been rolled out, including stricter rules against the use of mobile phones.’

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The Independent, 13th October 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The four new driving laws coming into force in UK this month – The Independent

Posted September 16th, 2022 in news, road safety, road traffic, road traffic offences, roads, telecommunications by tracey

‘Motorists have been urged to be familiar with new driving laws that have been rolled out this month, including stricter rules against the use of mobile phones.’

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The Independent, 16th September 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Smart motorways: Lack of hard shoulder contributed to death – coroner – BBC News

Posted September 12th, 2022 in accidents, coroners, inquests, news, road safety, roads by tracey

‘The lack of a hard shoulder on a stretch of smart motorway in South Yorkshire contributed to the death of a grandmother, a coroner has ruled.’

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BBC News, 10th September 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

E-scooters: legalise but regulate, says consumer body – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Victims of accidents involving illegally ridden e-scooters face an unnecessarily arduous battle for compensation, according to a report calling for legalisation and regulation for the battery-powered vehicles.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 25th July 2022

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Law Commission starts debate on how to regulate remote driving – Law Commission

Posted June 24th, 2022 in dangerous driving, Law Commission, news, road safety, road traffic, roads by tracey

‘The Law Commission of England and Wales have today published a paper asking for views on the need and options for regulating remote driving on public roads.’

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Law Commission, 24th June 2022

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

E-Scooters: The Current Framework – Part 1 – Guildhall Chambers

‘The Queen’s speech 2022 has confirmed what has been widely anticipated by the media and the legal sector – e-scooters will now become a permanent feature on public roads and new legislation is expected under the Transport Bill.’

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Guildhall Chambers, 12th May 2022

Source: www.guildhallchambers.co.uk

Changes to the Law on Using a Mobile Phone While Driving – 4 King’s Bench Walk

‘In 2003 the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations created a specific offence of using a mobile phone while driving. Subsection 110(6)(a) of those Regulations states that a mobile telephone is to be treated as hand-held ‘if it is, or must be, held at some point during the course of making or receiving a call or performing any other interactive communication function’.’

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4 King's Bench Walk, 25th March 2022

Source: www.4kbw.co.uk

New Highway Code rules for phone usage come into force – everything you need to know – The Independent

‘Drivers could face a fine for just touching a mobile phone while behind the wheel – and the same goes for passengers in certain circumstances under tough new rules.’

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The Independent, 29th March 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk