§ 19. Mr. Matthewsasked the Minister of Transport how many persons have died in Warwickshire during the past twelve months as a result of traffic accidents; and how these figures compare with previous years.
§ Mr. HayA total of 314 persons were killed in road accidents during the 12 months November, 1959, to October, 1960; this compares with 258 in the corresponding period in 1958–59 and 264 in 1957–58.
§ 20. Mr. Matthewsasked the Minister of Transport how the record of accidents on Watling Street compares with other main roads in Warwickshire with a similar density of traffic.
§ Mr. HayThere were 17 personal injury accidents per mile of road on the Watling Street during the first 11 months of 1960, compared with 15 per mile on the A.34, 14 per mile on the A.46 and 18 per mile on the A.452. Some of the routes lie in more heavily populated areas than others and, since adequate data on the character and density of traffic on the roads are not available, it is difficult to draw valid conclusions from comparisons of this kind.
§ Mr. MatthewsIs it fairly well proved that Watling Street is almost the most dangerous road in Warwickshire? Cannot something be done to speed up the improvement of this road between Atherstone and Wilnecote, at Wilnecote in particular?
§ Mr. HayI do not think that my hon. Friend was listening carefully to what I said at the end of my last Answer. It is difficult to draw valid conclusions as to the danger or lack of danger of certain stretches of road from comparisons between roads. We will get on with the improvements to the road as soon as we can.