§ 82. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Minister of Transport how the latest available road accident figures compare with those for the same period last year and during a similar portion of 1939.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. G. R. Strauss)I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT the full figures for which my hon. Friend asks. These show that the number of people killed in road accidents in the first eight months of 1939 was 4,137; in 1945, 3,256, and in 1946, 3,226. To form any useful comparison, however, account must be taken of the volume of traffic on the roads in the periods concerned. This can best be done by taking the ascertained fuel consumption of road vehicles. A calculation on this basis shows that in the first six months of 1946 the petrol consumed was 79 per cent. that of 1938, but the number of killed and injured was only 67.5 per cent.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeDoes my hon. Friend attribute such improvement as has taken place to the Road Safety Campaign which is still under way?
§ Mr. StraussI think one can safely say that that has been an important influence on the number of road accidents. The September figures of road accidents, which I hope to announce tomorrow, are particularly encouraging.
§ Following is the statement:
§ The following are the accident figures for January to July inclusive for the three years 1939, 1945, and 1946:
| — | Killed. | Seriously Injured. | Slightly Injured. |
| 1939 | 3,319 | 27,094 | 98,209 |
| 1945 | 2,768 | 16,399 | 49,928 |
| 1946 | 2,780 | 19,630 | 64,648 |
§ The figures for August have not been included in the table as particulars are not available of the numbers of those seriously and slightly injured in August, 1939. As 291 regards numbers killed, however, the figures are as follow:
| 1939 | … | … | … | 618 killed |
| 1945 | … | … | … | 488 killed |
| 1946 | … | … | … | 446 killed |