§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the number of road traffic accidents in which use of cannabis was a contributory factor. [151136]
§ Mr. JamiesonIn a research study on the incidence of drugs and alcohol in a sample of 1,184 road accident fatalities between 1996 and 1999, TRL Report 495, it was found that 13 per cent. of car drivers had traces of cannabis in the body. However, presence of a drug in the body cannot alone be directly related to any contributory role in accidents. In the case of cannabis the research also noted that it may remain traceable in the blood stream for up to four weeks after it is taken by regular users, whereas its effect on driving is probably limited to a few hours at most.
Routine accident statistics do not record drugs as a contributory factor. But under a pilot scheme on contributory factors begun in 1999 it was assessed that drugs of any kind were a factor in about one per cent. of injury accidents.
§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the number of(a) fatalities and (b) injuries as a result of road traffic accidents on the A54 road between Shrewsbury and Telford for each month over the last 12 months; [151371]
(2) if he will list the number of (a) fatalities and (b) injuries as a result of road traffic accidents on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and Welshpool for each month over the last 12 months; [151372]
(3) how many (a) fatalities and (b) injuries there were as a result of road traffic accidents on (i) the A5 between Shrewsbury and Oswestry and (ii) the A49 between Shrewsbury and Ludlow, in each of the last 12 months. [151445]
1239W
§ Mr. JamiesonThe following tables are taken from figures provided by West Mercia Police.
M54/A5, from M54 J4 (Telford) to A5 Baileys Roundabout (Shrewsbury)—2003 Month Fatal Serious Slight Total January 0 0 1 1 February 0 0 4 4 March 0 0 0 0 April 0 0 2 2 May 0 0 5 5 June 0 0 1 1 July 0 0 3 3 August 0 0 2 2 September 0 0 0 0 October 0 0 0 0 November 0 1 0 1 December 0 1 0 1 Total 0 2 18 20
A458 Trunk Road from Churncote Roundabout, Shrewsbury to Welsh Border—20031 Month Fatal Serious Slight Total January 0 0 0 0 February 0 0 1 1 March 0 0 8 8 April 0 1 2 3 May 0 1 6 7 June 0 0 3 3 July 0 0 1 1 August 0 0 1 1 September 0 0 0 0 October 0 0 0 0 November 0 0 6 6 December 0 0 0 0 Total 0 2 28 30 1The section of A458 between the Welsh Border and Welshpool is the responsibility of the Welsh National Assembly.
A5 from Baileys Roundabout Shrewsbury to Welsh Border—2003 Month Fatal Serious Slight Total January 0 0 4 4 February 0 1 3 4 March 0 1 2 3 April 0 0 1 1 May 0 0 2 2 June 0 1 4 5 July 0 1 3 4 August 1 4 11 16 September 0 0 3 3 October 0 1 3 4 November 0 1 3 4 December 0 0 2 2 Total 1 10 41 52 1240W
A49 from Baileys Roundabout Shrewsbury to Worcestershire/Shropshire County Boundary—2003 Month Fatal Serious Slight Total January 0 0 5 5 February 0 0 9 9 March 0 1 5 6 April 0 0 5 5 May 0 0 2 2 June 0 0 6 6 July 0 1 3 4 August 0 0 6 6 September 0 0 7 7 October 0 0 3 3
A49 from Baileys Roundabout Shrewsbury to Worcestershire/Shropshire County Boundary—2003 Month Fatal Serious Slight Total November 0 2 14 17 December 0 0 5 5 Total 1 4 70 75
§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) serious injuries and (b) fatalities caused by road accidents have occurred in (a) Southend and (b) Southend West in each of the last 20 years. [153477]
§ Mr. JamiesonInformation on road accidents and casualties is not available for Parliamentary Constituencies except at disproportionate cost. Figures for the Southend unitary authority (and borough of Southend prior to 1 April 1998) are shown in the following table.
Fatalities and serious injuries: Southend Unitary Authority: 1983–2002 Casualties Year1 Killed Seriously injured 1983 12 181 1984 14 200 1985 11 232 1986 7 204 1987 25 213 1988 11 156 1989 12 163 1990 12 143 1991 8 97 1992 6 104 1993 4 91 1994 5 111 1995 5 106 1996 4 110 1997 6 121 1998 4 103 1999 11 75 2000 6 100 2001 5 82 2002 6 94 11983 1 April 1998 borough of Southend, 1 April 1998–2002 Southend Unitary Authority.