HC Deb 29 October 1975 vol 898 cc522-6W
Mr. Ron Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report the full accident statistics relating to invalid tricycles with manual gearbox, automatic transmission, electrically-propelled models and four-wheeled vehicles, respectively, in England for the years ended 30th September 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively, listing the information under the categories as supplied by her department for publication in Motor magazine on 14th August 1974.

Mr. Alfred Morris

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th October 975; Vol. 898, c. 48], circulated the following:

The information requested by my hon. Friend is provided in the tables below. I am concerned about the increase in the number of fatal accidents involving three-wheeler drivers reported in the year ended 30th September 1975. I am advised that in none of these cases was there any evidence that a mechanical defect in the vehicle was a cause of the accident.

In studying these figures I am consulting experts in the Department of Environment and the Transport and Road Research Laboratory. I shall give the most urgent and careful consideration to any comments or recommendations which may be made.

ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DEPARTMENTAL CARS AND THREE-WHEELERS—ENGLAND
Type of vehicle Reported in year ended 30th September Vehicles at risk (000)* Total accidents Collision with another vehicle or pedestrian Collision with immovable object Overturned (including those allegedly blown over Fire Others including theft, vandalism, damaged whilst parked Fatalities
Manoeuvring Travelling Manoeuvring Travelling
Model 70 3-wheelers 1973 4.7 1,563 664 580 95 0 224 3
1974 6.8 2,502 620 700 593 187 175 0 227 1*
1975 9.8 3,141 1,013 890 554 296 186 1 201 8
Other petrol 3-wheelers 1973 13.5 3,091 1,977 568 103 4 439 2
1974 11.6 2,315 702 872 282 111 105 3 240 4
1975 10.3 1,584 601 563 137 116 47 4 116 1
Electric 3-wheelers 1973 1.7 260 120 106 2 1 31 0
1974 1.6 213 60 50 64 14 3 0 22 0
1975 1.4 200 52 49 78 7 3 0 11 0
All 3-wheelers 1973 19.9 4,914 2,761 1,254 200 5 694 5
1974 19.9 5,030 1,382 1,622 939 312 283 3 489 5
1975 21.5 4,925 1,666 1,502 769 419 236 5 328 9
Departmental cars 1973 8.3 1,577 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 2
1974 9.4 1,815* 442 869 164 35 4 8 293* 6
1975 9.8 1,925 753 678 108 76 4 4 302 0

ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DEPARTMENTAL CARS AND THREE-WHEELERS—ENGLAND
Type of vehicle Reported in year ended 30th September Vehicles at risk (000)* Total accidents Collision with another vehicle or pedestrian Collision with immovable object Overturned (including those allegedly blown over) Fire Others including theft, vandalism, damaged whilst parked Fatalities
Manoeuvring Travelling Manoeuvring Travelling
3-Wheelers:
All accident injuries 1975 362 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
1974 419 20 228 15 54 102 0
1975 529 43 253 20 115 93 5
Minor cuts, bruises, concussion 1974 298 12 142 14 44 86 0
1975 374 35 165 17 77 75 5
Severe cuts, bruises etc. 1974 67 3 48 1 7 8 0
1975 92 6 50 2 21 13 0
Broken ribs/limb necessitating admission to hospital 1974 48 4 33 0 3 8* 0
1975 56 2 31 1 17 5 0
Serious multiple injuries 1974 6 1 5 0 0 0 0
1975 7 0 7 0 0 0 0
Departmental Cars:
All accident injuries 1973 72 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.
1974 94 5 66 12 6 1 4
1975 110 21 62 7 20 2 3
Minor cuts, bruises, concussion 1974 55 3 36 8 3 1 4
1975 79 16 42 2 14 2 3
Severe cuts, bruises etc. 1974 24 0 21 2 1 0 0
1975 19 4 13 0 2 0 0
Broken ribs/limbs necessitating admission to hospital 1974 13 2 7 2 2 0 0
1975 10 1 6 0 3 0 0
Serious multiple injuries 1974 2 0 1 0 0 0 0
1975 2 0 1 0 1 0 0
* Amended.
† Including reserve fleets.
Manoeuvring—D.H.S.S. vehicle in collision manoeuvring while parking.
Travelling—D.H.S.S. vehicle in collision while travelling on public road.
n.a.—Not available.