Road Accidents (Hansard, 5 April 1978)

§ 1. Mr. Ashley
asked the Secretary of State for Transport what further steps he proposes to take to reduce the number of road accidents.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. John Horam)
The Government have a continuing programme of measures to reduce road accidents. As my right hon. Friend said in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Swansea, East, (Mr. Anderson) on 15th March, he is arranging a major conference on road safety this summer.

§ Mr. Ashley
As there is now no doubt that well over 1,000 lives would be saved and well over 10,000 people could avoid serious disablement every year, and that there are diminishing returns on increased expenditure or methods of persuasion, why does my hon. Friend not bring forward a Bill to make the wearing of seat belts compulsory, in order to end, once and for all, the massacre and maiming of innocents?

§ Mr. Horam
I very much regret that it has not been possible to introduce a 412 Bill in this Session—and, of course, I cannot say anything about next Session. However, my right hon. Friend has said that we are convinced that legislation will ultimately be forthcoming to make the wearing of seat belts compulsory. In the meantime, we can do a great deal by voluntary persuasion. My hon. Friend will know that the wearing of seat belts increased from 17 per cent. to 31 per cent. as a result of successive advertising campaigns, and we shall do more of that.

§ Mr. Paul Dean
Does the hon. Gentleman accept that one of the best ways of reducing road accidents would be to step up the road maintenance programme? Will he give a positive response to the pleas of Avon County Council and many others about the bad state of our roads and recognise that the present neglect is bound to lead to more loss of life and is penny wise and pound foolish?

§ Mr. Horam
I do not accept for one minute that there is neglect. I certainly accept that maintenance is an important part of any continuing programme of road safety, together with care for driving conditions and road surfaces in general. The hon. Gentleman may be aware that we instituted a national survey of road maintenance conditions in 1976, and this will ensure that objective evidence is available about the condition of roads.

§ Mr. Anderson
As the effects of the breathalyser Act become less pronounced, there is a need to go beyond advertising campaigns and to step up the campaign against driving while under the influence of alcohol. Why has nothing been done about the recommendations of the Blennerhassett Committee?

§ Mr. Horam
My hon. Friend will be aware that legislation would be necessary to bring in all the measures recommended by the Blennerhassett Committee, and that has not been possible this Session. We are doing all that we can to introduce those parts of the recommendations that are not necessarily subject to legislation. For example, we shall have a major publicity campaign this year on drinking and driving.