Motoring Offences (Hansard, 16 May 1986)

§ Mr. Soley
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists in the Metropolitan police area were (a) cautioned for exceeding the speed limit under section 89 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and (b) convicted for exceeding the speed limit for each year since 1976.

§ Mr. Mellor
The readily available information relates to written warnings and findings of guilt for all speed limit offences and is published annually by police force area in "Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables" (tables 18 and 19 of the issue for 1984). In 1983 and 1984 there were, respectively, about 1,300 and 900 written warnings and about 24,500 and 32,700 findings of guilt for these offences in the Metropolitan police district. Of the latter, about 24,300 and 31,700 respectively were for speeding offences which the police would normally prosecute under section 89 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, or equivalent earlier legislation (that is offences not involving speed limits for special types of vehicle or speeding on motorways). Earlier figures for findings of guilt under section 89 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. Soley
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many motorists were convicted of (a)

Screening breath tests required, evidential tests required and findings of guilt for drink-driving offences in the Metropolitan Police District

Metropolitan Police District Number of tests required and number of offences

Year Screening breath tests required^* Evidential test required^* Findings of guilt for drink-driving offences

Blood or urine Breath Total Driving, or attempting to drive Other offences^† Total^‡

While unfit from drink or drugs With alcohol in the breath, blood or urine above the prescribed limit

1975 18,500 .. n/a .. .. .. .. ..

1976 16,400 .. n/a .. .. .. .. ..

1977 15,200 .. n/a .. .. .. .. 9,300

1978 15,600 .. n/a .. .. .. .. 9,600

1979 20,000 .. n/a .. .. .. .. 10,900

1980 21,000 .. n/a .. .. .. .. 12,300

1981 19,700 15,200 n/a 15,200 2,300 7,800 1,300 11,400

1982 24,000 18,500 n/a 18,500 2,500 7,800 1,600 11,800

1983║ 31,400 ^●7,100 n/a 23,300 2,400 11,600 2,300 16,300

1983^¶ — ^●3,100 13,000

1984 32,100 4,600 18,000 22,600 2,100 14,100 3,500 19,700

.. not readily availble

n/a not applicable

^* Includes failure or refusal to provide

^† Includes offences of being in charge of a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs or having alcohol in the breath, blood or urine above the prescribed limits; or failing to provide a sample for initial breath test or evidential analysis.

^‡ Some persons with a single evidential test requirement may be found guilty of more than one offence.

^║ 1 January to 5 May 1983

^¶ 6 May to 31 December 1983

^● After 6 May 1983, blood and urine tests were only required if an evidential breath sample could not be provided for a reason other than refusal

Screening breath tests required, evidential tests required and findings of guilt for drink-driving offences in the Metropolitan Police District
Metropolitan Police District	Number of tests required and number of offences
Year	Screening breath tests required^*	Evidential test required^*	Findings of guilt for drink-driving offences
		Blood or urine	Breath	Total	Driving, or attempting to drive	Other offences^†	Total^‡
					While unfit from drink or drugs	With alcohol in the breath, blood or urine above the prescribed limit
1975	18,500	..	n/a	..	..	..	..	..
1976	16,400	..	n/a	..	..	..	..	..
1977	15,200	..	n/a	..	..	..	..	9,300
1978	15,600	..	n/a	..	..	..	..	9,600
1979	20,000	..	n/a	..	..	..	..	10,900
1980	21,000	..	n/a	..	..	..	..	12,300
1981	19,700	15,200	n/a	15,200	2,300	7,800	1,300	11,400
1982	24,000	18,500	n/a	18,500	2,500	7,800	1,600	11,800
1983║	31,400	^●7,100	n/a	23,300	2,400	11,600	2,300	16,300
1983^¶	—	^●3,100	13,000
1984	32,100	4,600	18,000	22,600	2,100	14,100	3,500	19,700
.. not readily availble
n/a not applicable
^* Includes failure or refusal to provide
^† Includes offences of being in charge of a motor vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs or having alcohol in the breath, blood or urine above the prescribed limits; or failing to provide a sample for initial breath test or evidential analysis.
^‡ Some persons with a single evidential test requirement may be found guilty of more than one offence.
^║ 1 January to 5 May 1983
^¶ 6 May to 31 December 1983
^● After 6 May 1983, blood and urine tests were only required if an evidential breath sample could not be provided for a reason other than refusal