HC Deb 15 April 1946 vol 421 cc2352-5
70. Mr. T. J. Brooks

asked the Minister of Transport the total number of people killed and injured on the roads during each year from 1926 to 1945 inclusive; the total number of people killed and injured to date; and the percentage of those killed and injured who were juveniles.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. G. R. Strauss)

With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Brooks

In view of the alarming number of deaths and injuries on the roads, will the Minister use his influence with the B.B.C. and get them to give a few messages during the week? Will he also ask the National Press and the education authorities to issue messages to the children?

Mr. Strauss

Yes, Sir, we are actively pursuing that matter. Education authorities are co-operating and the B.B.C. have done a good job of work by broadcasting many broadcasts along those lines.

Mr. Brooks

Has the Minister considered the question of the number of vehicles now released for the roads? We are just about crowded out and more private cars are coming on to the roads. Are there any new ideas in his Department regarding safety on the roads? Would he consider creating some defence force to help the police in road safety? It is really alarming. It is almost as bad as being at war, if not worse. It is very serious.

Mr. Strauss

We fully appreciate the seriousness of the position and we are doing everything we can to keep down the number of accidents, arid we will proceed to do more as labour and materials become available.

Mr. C. Williams

Can the Minister give an answer to the last part of the Question now?

Following is the statement:

ROAD CASUALTIES, 1926 to 1946 (FEBRUARY).
Year Number of all Persons killed of injured. Number of Child Pedestrians and Child Cyclists included in in previous columns. Percentage of child Pedestrians and Child Cyclists to all Persons.
Killed. Injured. Total. Killed. Injured. Total. Killed. Injured. Total.
1926 … … … 4,836 133,888 138,774 Not available
1927 … … … 5.329 148,575 153,904
1928 … … … 6,138 164,838 170,976
1929 … … … 6,696 170,917 177,613
1930 … … … 7,305 177,895 185,200
1931 … … … 6,691 202,119 208,810
1932 … … … 6,667 206,450 213,117
1933 … … … 7,202 216,328 223,530
1934 … … … 7,343 231,603 238,946
1935 … … … 6,502 221,726 228,228
1936 … … … 6,561 227,813 234,374
1937 … … … 6,633 226,402 233,035 1,002 40,591 41,593 15.1 17.9 17.8
1938 … … … 6,648 226,711 233,359 1,069 41,259 42,328 16.1 18.2 18.1
1939 … … … 8,272 * * 1,034 * * 12.5 * *
1940 … … … 8,609 * * 1,177 * * 13.7 * *
1941 … … … 9,169* * 1,462 * * 15.9 * *
1942 … … … 6,926 140,618 147,544 1,315 23,666 24,981 19.0 16.8 16.9
1943 … … … 5,796 116,740 122,536 1,124 21,210 22,334 19.4 18.2 18.2
1944 … … … 6,416 124,458 130,874 1,335 22,391 23,726 20.8 18.0 18.1
1945 … … … 5,256 133,042 138,298 1,219 27,234 28,453 23.2 20.5 20.6
1946 (January and February) † … … … 787 20,355 21,142 123 3,472 3,595 15.6 17.1 17.0
* The reporting of injuries was suspended during the earlier part of the war
† Figures for March not yet available.
NOTE.—There is reason to assume that during the war the reporting of cases of slight injury was not as complete as formerly.