§ 41. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Transport the numbers of persons killed and injured, respectively, on the roads of Great Britain under the category of road users in 1938 and 1951, respectively; and what percentage variations in the various categories of road 1913 users the figures represent in 1951 compared with those for 1938.
§ Mr. MaclayWith permission, I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. FreemanDo these figures not indicate that there has been a decrease in the proportion of pedestrians and pedal cyclists killed and injured on the roads, and an increase in the proportion of motorists, either as drivers or passengers, and motorcyclists, and if so will the
| CASUALTIES AMONG VARIOUS CLASSES OF ROAD USER IN 1938 AND 1951 | |||||||||
| — | Killed | Percentage increase (+)or decrease (-)in 1951 | Injured | Percentage increase (+)or decrease (-)in 1951 | Total | Percentage increase (+)or decrease (-)in 1951 | |||
| 1938 | 1951 | 1938 | 1951 | 1938 | 1951 | ||||
| Per cent. | Per cent. | Per cent. | |||||||
| Pedestrians: | |||||||||
| Under 15 | 870 | 706 | -19 | 30,720 | 24,652 | -20 | 31,590 | 25,358 | -20 |
| Over 15 | 2,176 | 1,692 | -22 | 43,473 | 32,812 | -25 | 45,649 | 34,504 | -24 |
| Pedal cyclists: | |||||||||
| Under 15 | 205 | 130 | -37 | 10,440 | 10,188 | -2 | 10,645 | 10,318 | - 3 |
| Over 15 | 1,196 | 670 | -44 | 55,287 | 37,089 | -33 | 56,483 | 37,759 | -33 |
| Motor cyclists | 989 | 983 | - 1 | 24,618 | 32,143 | +31 | 25,607 | 33,126 | +29 |
| Motor cycle passengers | 156 | 192 | +23 | 7,008 | 9,362 | +34 | 7,164 | 9,554 | +33 |
| Drivers | 339 | 321 | - 5 | 18,054 | 20,275 | + 12 | 18,393 | 20,596 | + 12 |
| Other persons | 717 | 556 | -22 | 37,111 | 44,722 | +21 | 37,828 | 45,278 | +20 |
| Total | 6,648 | 5,250 | -21 | 226,711 | 211,243 | - 7 | 233,359 | 216,493 | - 7 |
§ 43. Mr. Bottomleyasked the Minister of Transport how many statutory inquiries he held into road accidents and railway accidents, respectively, during 1951.
§ Mr. MaclayDuring 1951, 14 statutory inquiries were held into train accidents on passenger railways. There were no statutory inquiries into road accidents during that year.
§ Mr. BottomleyIn view of the fact that 5,250 people were killed on the roads in 1951, can the Minister explain why he does not use the powers conferred upon him by Parliament under Section 23 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, to inquire into causes of road accidents?
§ Mr. MaclayThe right hon. Gentleman, I think, will appreciate that there is a great difference between the railway position and the road position. The operation of the railways is covered by
§ Minister give special consideration to dealing with the matter in a new Highway Code and in Regulations?
§ Mr. MaclayThe figures are really rather complicated, and I think the hon. Member would be well advised to study them, as I must before I can give an answer to the question he has asked. I could not give a straight answer to the question in those terms.
§ The following is the statement:
§ very strict safety devices, and inquiries are necessary in these cases to see that they are all working or to ascertain any alterations which may be desirable. In the case of roads, there are very many other factors, but in a large number of cases it is a question of error of judgment, and I doubt whether a statutory inquiry would be of any real use.
§ Mr. BottomleyIs the Minister saying that the powers conferred upon him by Parliament are unnecessary?