§ 55. Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Transport whether road accidents in which alcohol is a contributing factor are on the increase.
§ Mr. MarplesSo far as can be judged from the official statistics, the number of accidents in which an intoxicated driver or rider is involved is increasing at a rather greater rate than the total for all road accidents.
§ Mr. HaymanIn view of the Minister's very serious Answer, and the appalling figures given in the newspapers this morning of those killed in October of this year, will he take strong steps to try to do something to improve this terrible position?
§ Mr. MarplesAs the House knows, the Government are to bring in a Road Safety Bill which, I hope, will help. Prior to that, I can only say that the time when drinking really does cause accidents is Christmas time. It is these Christmas party arrangements that people have. Most of these accidents take place between 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve and 2 a.m. on Christmas morning. I have tried to make as many appeals as possible, advising people who drink not to drive, and I should like now to reinforce that advice.
§ Mr. StraussI should like to give every support to the Minister in that direction, but could I emphasise more than he has done the danger of the drunken pedestrian—a danger that is at least as great as that of the drunken motorist?
§ Mr. MarplesI am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for giving me this opportunity also to emphasise that. When the Road Research Laboratory went into the figures for last Christmas, it was found that 56 per cent. of people involved in fatal accidents had been drinking, and that a large percentage were pedestrians. I think that if people go to these Christmas parties and find that they have had a little too much to drink they should ask someone—and they should make the selection—to help them home and look after them. If people have been drinking, they should get their wives or someone to drive them home, rather than drive themselves.