§ Mr. Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the increase in the number of passenger coaches operating in England and Wales over the last five years and the number of accidents involving such coaches over the same period, expressing these latter figures as a percentage of the total of road accidents.
§ Mr. HoramI regret that the information is not available in the precise form requested. The following information is available:
PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES*: GREAT BRITIAN: 1973–77 Public service vehicles operating at 31st December Public service vehicles involved in injury accidents Public service vehicles involved in injury accidents as a percentage of all motor vehicles involved in accidents 1973 74,306 17,743 4.47 1974 76,774 16,641 4.51 1975 76,797 16,953 4.54 1976 75,416 16,039 4.04 1977 73,437 15,548 3.78 * Public service vehicles includes buses and coaches
§ Mr. Anthony Grantasked the Secretary of State for Transport what special qualifications are required for drivers who drive coaches carrying children or elderly persons; if he is satisfied with them and with the safety of such coaches generally; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HoramThe qualifications required of drivers of passenger vehicles are the same, whether or not they are carrying children or elderly persons. With the limited exception of certain minibuses, if the passengers are being carried for hire or reward the vehicle is a public service vehicle and its driver must hold a current and valid public service vehicle driving licence. Moreover, the driver of any vehicle with more than nine seats overall must be 21 years of age or over. 97W Interested parties have been consulted about whether special qualifications should be required for drivers of vehicles with more than 17 seats overall not carrying passengers for hire and reward and consideration is being given to the possibility of a change.
We take a close interest in all road safety matters, including those relating to coaches, and propose to examine very carefully the requirements for all coaches when implementing EEC directive 77/143 about roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers.