§ 29. Major GLYNasked the Minister of Transport what were the equivalent figures for the London traffic area of accidents investigated by officers of his Department, or which came to the notice of the Metropolitan or City Police, for the period 1927 to 1928, which for England and Wales are returned at 586 accidents, involving the deaths of 488 persons and injuries to 1,161 other persons; and what proportion do these figures represent of the total number of similar serious accidents involving death or serious injury and which were reported to the respective police forces in England and Wales?
§ Colonel ASHLEYAs the answer is somewhat long, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ The latest comparable figures are those for the calendar year 1927. The figures quoted by my hon. and gallant Friend are taken from the annual report on the administration of the Road Fund for the year 1927–28, and represent the comparatively small number of specially serious accidents in the whole of Great Britain, excluding the London traffic area, which were investigated during that year by officers of my Department. Outside this area I have no power to hold inquiries into road accidents, and the investigations by my officers into the more serious accidents brought to the notice of the Department are carried out by the courtesy of coroners and of the police authorities concerned. In the London traffic area powers are conferred upon me under the London Traffic Act, 1924, to inquire into accidents which are alleged to be due to defects in the road or defects in the vehicle, and during the calendar year 1927, 408 such accidents were brought to my notice involving 41 deaths and injuries to 193 parties. Statistics as to the total number of street accidents caused by vehicles in Great Britain for the year 1927 are given in the return furnished to the House by the Home Office, dated 5th April, 1928.