63. Mr. Davidsonasked the Minister of Transport the total number of deaths as a result of road accidents in the Maryhill division of Glasgow for the years ended September, 1935 and 1937, respectively?
§ Mr. BurginRoad accidents in the Maryhill police division of Glasgow during the years ended 30th September, 1935 and 1937, resulted in the deaths of four and 10 persons respectively.
Mr. DavidsonMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman, not wishing to criticise him, whether he will give serious consideration to this increase of deaths in one particular division, in order to try and reduce the number of deaths in that area?
§ Mr. BurginYes, of course, but I am glad to say that the number of persons killed in 1937 is less than in 1936 and that the number of persons injured in this district is also substantially less.
§ 64. Mr. Kirbyasked the Minister of Transport the number of street accidents in which school children were involved in the city of Liverpool between the hours of 8 to 9 a.m., noon to 1.30 p.m., and 388 3.45 to 5 p.m., during the years 1935 and 1936 respectively?
§ Mr. BurginDuring the year 1935, in the city of Liverpool, 276 children under the age of 16 years were involved in street accidents which occurred about the hours of going to or returning from school. Comparable figures for the whole of 1936 are not available, but 128 children were involved during the period from 1st January to 31st July, 1936.
§ Mr. KirbyWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether those figures are supplied to him regularly by the Liverpool Corporation or Watch Committee?
§ Mr. Craven-EllisHow many of those accidents resulted fatally?
§ Mr. BurginPerhaps my hon. Friend will put that question down, as it is not quite the question that I was asked. I am indebted, of course, to the chief constable of the city of Liverpool for the information that I have given.
§ Mr. KirbyThe point that I wanted to get at was whether the chief constable of Liverpool regularly forwarded that information or whether the right hon. Gentleman got it specially for this occasion.
§ Mr. BurginThe information as to the total number of accidents comes automatically. The total number of persons involved in accidents in the city of Liverpool is something of the order of 4,500 a year, but what is not regularly done is the breaking down of that total among different persons, and I am not aware that that as a regular practice is worth the trouble and expense, unless I call for it.
§ 65. Mr. Woodsasked the Minister of Transport the major causes of road accidents and the percentage of the accidents during 1936 attributable to each of the major causes?
§ Mr. BurginAs the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the information:
§ Particulars of the causes of road accidents during the whole of the year 1936 are not available but an analysis of 100,000 road accidents involving personal injury which occurred in the six 389 months of April to September, 1936, shows that the major causes attributed were as follow:
| — | Number of Accidents. | Percentage of total. |
| Drivers or Riders of Vehicles (including Pedal Cyclists): | ||
| Emerging or turning from one road into another without due care. | 9,655 | 9.6 |
| Inattentive or attention diverted. | 6,786 | 6.8 |
| Misjudging clearance | 4,993 | 5.0 |
| Skidding | 4,830 | 4.8 |
| proceeding at excessive speed having regard to conditions. | 4,430 | 4.4 |
| Swerving | 4,209 | 4.2 |
| Overtaking improperly | 3,729 | 3.7 |
| Failing to keep to near side or proper traffic lane. | 3,234 | 3.2 |
| Losing control | 3,179 | 3.2 |
| Pedestrians: | ||
| Heedless of traffic | 11,261 | 11.3 |
| Walking or running out from in front of or behind vehicle which masked movement. | 3,683 | 3.7 |
| Children under 7 years of age unaccompanied or inadequately supervised. | 7,967 | 8.0 |
| Causes ascribed other than to persons: | ||
| (e.g. road or weather conditions, defects in vehicles, etc.). | 8,662 | 8.7 |
| 76,618 | 76.6 |