§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are, for each year since 1975, the figures for death caused by drink and driving accidents in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 1 February 1988]: Information is not available for the years 1975–78. For the years for which it is available, the figures can be expressed only as a range because the information is incomplete. From 1979 to 1985, the latest year for which figures are available, the estimated numbers of death in accidents in which at least one driver was, or was reckoned to have been, over the legal limit are set out in the table:
78W
Deaths associated with drunk driving Minimum Maximum All road deaths aged 16 and over All road deaths 1979 199 222 725 810 1980 195 218 635 700 1981 190 204 616 677 1982 165 178 635 701 1983 129 141 551 624 1984 126 139 519 599 1985 111 116 535 602 It is encouraging that the estimated numbers of such deaths have diminished over the period, both absolutely and as a proportion both of road deaths aged 16 and over and of all road deaths. I hope, however, that we shall all play our part in reducing the numbers much further.