§ Mr. Russell Johnstonasked the Minister of Transport what steps are being taken to analyse the causes of road accidents.
§ Mr. John MorrisReports on all accidents causing injury or death are sent to the Department by the police. Staff at the Ministry's headquarters and at the Road Research Laboratory carry out constant statistical analyses of these reports with a view to detecting recurrent accident factors and patterns which may point to possible means of tackling the accident problems. In addition, sample studies are conducted in greater depth than is possible for all accidents by the Road Research Laboratory's Accident Investigation Unit and by our two area road safety units in Hampshire and Warwickshire. Material on the possible contribution of vehicle defects in acciddents is also secured and analysed by our230W vehicle examiners and mechanical engineers, and our divisional road engineers study local accident concentrations in order to identify road features that may have contributed to accidents.
Accident investigation is also undertaken by such bodies as the Metropolitan Police Accident Investigation Unit which send the Ministry and findings they think may be useful.