HC Deb 10 February 1960 vol 617 cc49-50W
70. Mr. Hunter

asked the Minister of Transport what was the number of road accidents and casualties in 1959.

Mr. Marples

In 1959 there were 261,216 accidents involving death or personal injury; they resulted in 333,453 casualties.

Mr. Mellish

asked the Minister of Transport how many deaths, serious accidents and other accidents there were on the roads last year; by what percentage these figures exceeded those for 1958; and to what extent traffic increased in volume over 1958.

Mr. Marples

In 1959 6,520 persons were killed, 80,672 seriously injured and 246,261 slightly injured in road accidents. Compared with 1958 the increases were 9¼ per cent., 16¾ per cent. and 9½ per cent., respectively. The Road Research Laboratory estimate that in 1959 motor traffic increased by 12 per cent. compared with 1958.