§ 21. Mr. Spriggsasked the Minister of Transport if he will give separate figures of road traffic deaths and injuries for each year since 1955 in the United Kingdom; and, in view of those deaths and injuries, what qualifications he will lay down in his regulations made under Section 23 of the Road Traffic Act 1962 for professional driving instructors.
§ Mr. HayWith permission I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
We are considering what qualifications a driving instructor should have to obtain registration under Section 23 of the 1962 Act, and my right hon. Friend will announce them as soon as possible. While 426 we believe that better tuition will help to raise driving standards generally, I would remind the hon. Member that many accidents result from drivers ignoring safe principles even after they have been properly taught.
§ Mr. SpriggsWhen the Parliamentary Secretary and his right hon. Friend consider what is to be done, will they take into consideration the 21,515 people seriously injured in the last three months of 1962, and the 1,949 people who were killed in road traffic accidents in the same months?
§ Mr. HayYes, Sir. I can assure the hon. Member and the House that these and similar figures are always in the mind of my right hon. Friend.
§ Following, are the figures:
| ROAD CASUALTIES IN GREAT BRITAIN—1955 TO 1962 | ||||
| — | Killed | Seriously injured | Slightly injured | Total |
| 1955 | 5,526 | 62,106 | 200,290 | 267,922 |
| 1956 | 5,367 | 61,455 | 201,138 | 267,960 |
| 1957 | 5,550 | 63,706 | 204,602 | 273,858 |
| 1958 | 5,970 | 69,166 | 224,631 | 299,767 |
| 1959 | 6,520 | 80,672 | 246,261 | 333,453 |
| 1960 | 6,970 | 84,443 | 256,138 | 347,551 |
| 1961 | 6,908 | 84,936 | 257,923 | 349,767 |
| 1962 | 6,709 | 83,915 | 251,072 | 341,696 |