§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what was the estimated cost of road accidents in Great Britain in 1977, broken down into lost output, police and administration costs, medical and ambulance costs, damage to property, and an allowance for loss in human terms; and what would be the estimated effect on these costs of implementing the recommendations of the Leitch Committee report concerning the valuation of accidents;
(2) what was the estimated average cost per road accident in Great Britain in 1977 broken down into fatal accidents, serious accidents, slight accidents and accidents which caused damage only; and what would be the estmated effect on these costs of implementing the recommendations of the Leitch Committee report concerning the valuation of accidents.
§ Mr. HoramThe provisional estimated costs of road accidents in Great Britain 217W in 1977 are shown below. These values include the increase of 50 per cent. in the notional allowance for pain, grief and suffering recommended by the Leitch Committee pending further study and consultation about this allowance. Revised medical and ambulance costs have been included. The effect of these changes has been to increase the total costs by about £120 million. The effects of the committee's recommendations that police and legal costs should be updated, and that the value of lost output should be based on average income of the population at risk are likely to be small. I cannot estimate the effect of possible changes in the notional allowance for pain, grief and suffering following further study and consultation.
£million (June 1977 prices) Lost output 284 Police and administration costs 75 Medical and ambulance costs 42 Damage to property 542 Notional allowance for pain, grief and suffering 347 Total, all costs 1,290
ACCIDENT RATES BY TYPE OF AREA—GREAT BRITAIN, 1977 Per 100 million vehicle kilometers Fatal Serious Slight All Severities M and A(M) Roads* … … … … 0.7 4 10 15 Built-up areas† … … … … 2.8 37 121 161 Non Built-up areas† … … … … 2.2 18 31 51 All Roads‡ … … … … 2.3 26 73 101 * All accidents on M and A(M) roads divided by kilometres covered by vehicles permitted to use these roads. † Excluding M and A(M) roads, all accidents divided by kilometres travelled on these roads by all vehicles. ‡ Includes unknown type of area. Note: The 1977 traffic figures, used for calculating the accident rates quoted above, are subject to revision.
§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Transport what were the rates of vehicle involvement in road accidents per 100 million vehicle kilometres in Great Britain in 1977 for motor-cycles, cars and taxis, goods vehicles of less than one and
VEHICLE INVOLVEMENT RATES IN INJURY ACCIDENTS: BY CLASS OF VEHICLE—GREAT BRITAIN, 1977 Per 100 million vehicle kilometers Fatal Serious Slight All Severities Motor cycles* 23.8 355 808 1,187 Cars and Taxis 2.7 31 96 130 Buses and Coaches 10.3 71 355 437 Goods vehicles not over 1½ tons unladen weight 2.8 29 88 119 Goods vehicles over 1½ tons unladen weight 4.9 26 59 90 All motor vehicles 3.6 40 115 159 Pedal cycles 8.1 127 472 607 All vehicles 3.6 41 121 166 * Includes mopeds and motor scooters. Note: The 1977 traffic figures, used for calculating the vehicle involvement rates quoted above, are subject to revision.
218WThe provisional estimated average costs of accidents in Great Britain in 1977 are shown below. These values have been calculated on the same basis as the costs set out above. The effects of the Leitch Committee recommendations which have been implemented to date have been to increase the average cost of a fatal accident by £8,700, a serious accident by £960 and a slight accident by £20.
AVERAGE COST PER ACCIDENT JUNE 1977 PRICES Fatal accident £64,600 Serious accident £ 4,740 Slight accident £ 670 Damage only accident £ 280
§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Transport what were the road accident rates per 100 million vehicle kilometres in Great Britain in 1977 on motorways and A(M) roads, in built-up areas, in non-built-up areas and on all roads.
§ Mr. HoramThe information is as follows:
a half tons unladen weight, goods vehicles of over one and a half tons unladen weight, buses and coaches, all motor vehicles, pedal cycles and all vehicles.