The Road Safety Act 2006 (Commencement No. 2)(England and Wales) Order 2007

This Order brings into force the following provisions of the Road Safety Act 2006 which extend only to England and Wales.

Sections 53 and 55 are brought into force on 28th January 2008 and section 54 on 31st March 2008.

Section 53 (abolition of “contract exemption”) repeals section 75(1)(b) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (1976 c.57) which exempts from licensing as a private hire vehicle vehicles which are used only for carrying passengers for hire and reward under a contract for the hire of the vehicle for a period of not less than seven days.

Section 54 (private hire vehicles in London) amends the definition of “private hire vehicle” in section 1(1)(a) of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 (1998 c.34) by removing the words “to the public”, so bringing within the London private hire vehicle licensing regime operators and drivers who are currently providing a service to an identified group or organisation (but not the public at large).

Section 55 (trunk road picnic areas) amends section 112 of the Highways Act 1980 (1980 c.66) to enable the Secretary of State to provide picnic sites on land adjoining, or in the vicinity of, motorways and to enter into arrangements for the provision of facilities at such sites and of public sanitary conveniences on land adjoining the motorway.