Is road red tape to be slashed?

Date: 20/5/2011

Road transport is the sector currently up for debate on the government's Red Tape Challenge website, with the public being invited to offer their views on what they think works and what they do not agree with.

Mike Penning, the Roads Minister, has promised to take this feedback on board and bring to an end any rules and regulations that are poorly designed or implemented.

The consultation will take place over four weeks, with more than 400 Whitehall guidelines pertaining to road safety currently up for discussion.

Some of the red tape that has been identified as most likely to be scrapped includes the requirement for drivers to have a paper or electronically-issued motor insurance certificate, rules dictating that bus operators must wait 48 hours before throwing away any perishable items left on the vehicle and the current procedure councils must follow when fitting road humps.

"We are calling on everyone: consumers, businesses and volunteer groups to get involved and help reduce the number of badly thought out and obsolete regulations in our country," Mr Penning said.

Several industry experts are championing the exercise, including Simon Best of the Institute of Advanced Motorists and Theo de Pencier of the Freight Transport Association.

Posted by Mary Treen