§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Minister of Transport how many fatal road accidents were caused in whole or in part by drivers under the influence of alcohol in each of the last three years; what research is now being conducted into the relationship between drinking and driving; and what contribution has been made to that research by brewers.
§ Mr. MulleyI regret that information in the form requested in the first part of the question is not available. However, in 1968 and 1969 the number of drivers involved in fatal accidents who subsequently provided a positive breath test were 182 and 218 respectively. In some cases a breath test was not required because of serious injuries, or for some other reason, or was refused. The figures do not, moreover, include drivers who were killed themselves. Coroners' reports show that during the first 12 months that the Road Safety Act 1967 was in operation 15 per cent. of these drivers had more than the permitted amount of alcohol in the blood.
The Road Research Laboratory is examining in detail the effects of the Act on casualty rates, and analysing the information supplied by coroners about the blood/alcohol content of persons killed in accidents. I understand that the Brewers Society has commissioned an independent firm of consultants to investigate the extent to which alcohol is a cause of road accidents.