HC Deb 03 February 1938 vol 331 cc366-7
27. Captain Arthur Evans

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the light sentences being passed on motorists convicted of drunkenness when driving and of causing the death of other road users; and whether, taking the whole of the road fatalities of 1937, he can state the number of prosecutions instituted in connection with them?

Sir S. Hoare

There is no possibility of relating figures of offences by motorists with figures of fatalities. There are, for example, many prosecutions for driving when under the influence of drink where no fatality has occurred; and on the other hand there are many fatalities where no prosecution follows either because there are no grounds for a criminal charge or because the driver suspected of an offence has been killed. The returns of offences relating to motor vehicles during 1937 are not yet complete, but a preliminary examination shows that during the year there were 15 convictions of manslaughter arising out of fatal accidents and that in 13 of these cases the defendant was sentenced to penal servitude or imprisonment.

Mr. Leach

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider imposing the condition on all motorists that they shall be teetotallers?