HC Deb 10 November 1932 vol 270 cc481-2
10. Viscount CRANBORNE

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- ment the total number of deaths of pedestrians attributable to motor vehicles during the last period of a year for which figures are available: and in what proportion of these cases the coroner's report has shown that the driver of the vehicle was responsible?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)

During the year ended the 31st December, 1931, 2,860 persons, other than persons on any vehicle or horse involved, were killed in street accidents attributed to motor vehicles in England and Wales. I regret I cannot give the information asked for in the second part of the question.

Viscount CRANBORNE

In view of the fact that, if a satisfactory policy for avoiding accidents is to be devised, it is necessary to know who is responsible for them—what proportion of the accidents is due to pedestrians and what proportion to motor vehicles—will the right hon. Gentleman give instructions for such an inquiry to be made?

Sir J. GILMOUR

If my recollection is correct, when the Road Traffic Act was before the House some proposal was made for imposing the duty on coroners to make this return, but was defeated.