HC Deb 04 February 1959 vol 599 cc362-3
2. Mr. Page

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give the comparative death rates associated, respectively, with making a journey by air, train, four-wheeled motor vehicle, motor cycle, pedal cycle and on foot.

Mr. Nugent

No reliable estimates can at present be made of the risk of travel by air, on foot or as a passenger in a motor vehicle or on a motor cycle. The Road Research Laboratory has, however, estimated the comparative death rates in Great Britain per 1,000 million miles travelled for drivers of four-wheeled motor vehicles, passengers by train, motor cycle riders and pedal cyclists. Its conclusions are contained in a research note which will be published in due course, and I will see that my hon. Friend has a copy.

Mr. Page

Is not it a fact that travel by motor cycle is about twenty-three times as dangerous as travel by car? Does not this sort of thing show that a new attitude is required towards safety? I congratulate my hon. Friend on the measures adopted, but could not he formulate some really effective campaign to deal with the dangers on the roads?

Mr. Nugent

We are just about to engage on the campaign for this year, and we are always glad of support from any quarter.