HC Deb 23 December 1981 vol 15 cc974-5
4. Mr. Greenway

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many persons were killed and injured in road accidents in the most recent annual period for which figures are available.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

For the 12 months ending June 1981 it is provisionally estimated that some 5,800 people were killed and 320,000 injured in road accidents.

Mr. Greenway

I understand that that represents a steady improvement in road accident statistics. A substantial proportion of road deaths and accidents occur during the Christmas and new year period, often due to heavy drinking and driving. Will my hon. and learned Friend draw the nation's attention to dangers of this kind, which often involve innocent people being killed, maimed or injured?

Mr. Clarke

We must not be complacent, because the numbers are still horrific, but in 1980 fewer people were killed than in any year since 1958, and traffic has trebled in that period.

Unfortunately, Christmas is always marred by an increase in road accidents, because some people drink too much and drive and kill others. I hope that the same enforcement efforts will be made this winter, that drivers will be responsible, and, not drink too much and make themselves a danger on the road.

Mr. Greville Janner

Does the Under-Secretary recognise that the problems this Christmas will be particularly severe because of the awful weather and the dangers on the roads caused by ice? Will he take steps now to enable local authorities to cope with those conditions and not wait for the weather forecasters to produce an unexpected thaw?

Mr. Clarke

We are worried about the problems of salting and gritting and keeping the roads in good condition. We hope to improve the arrangements for local authorities to look after our trunk and local authority roads. We have already issued a new standard of service, which we hope local authorities will achieve on trunk roads, and we have agreed with them a code of practice on how to achieve it. Within the limits of what is practicable—with the British weather, there are limits—I believe that local authorities will get out and salt and grit the roads as soon as they can when the weather is about to create dangerous conditions.