HC Deb 06 November 1972 vol 845 cc82-3W
Mr. Jeffrey Archer

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the two accidents which took place at Healing Corner, near Grimsby, in June and September of this year, when two heavy lorries shed their loads, whether he will strengthen the regulations on securing loads.

Mr. Peyton

I issued, on 25th October, a Code of Practice on the Safety of Loads on Vehicles. This will be a useful support to the regulations which already exist.

Mr. Jeffrey Archer

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many instances there have been in each of the last five years of heavy lorries shedding their loads while on the road; and how many people in each of the last five years have been killed, and injured, respectively, as a result of such occurrences.

Mr. Peyton

Information in the form requested is not available. The numbers of goods vehicles of over 1½ tons unladen weight with defective loads involved in injury accidents in the last three years were:

1969 302
1970 322
1971 276

It is estimated that in 1971 these accidents gave rise to 350 casualties which represents about 0.1 per cent. of total road casualties for that year.