§ Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest statistics of the decline in the accident rate, respectively, in Great Britain as a whole and in Sussex following on the introduction of the 50 mph speed limit.
§ Mr. MulleyFollowing are the figures:
Accident rate per million vehicle miles DECEMBER: ALL SEVERITIES: GREAT BRITAIN 1971 1972 1973* (provisional) 2.19 2.32 2.26 Statistics of road accidents in local areas are a matter for the local authorities concerned. Measurements of traffic mileage are not available for individual counties.
§ Mr. Spriggsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent information he has received about the tendency for road traffic to bunch on major roads; and if he will take steps to rescind the 50 mph speed limit in line with other European countries and return the United Kingdom to pre-emergency speed limits forthwith.
§ Mr. MulleyAs to the first part, none; the habit of many drivers of following too closely behind the vehicle in front is a long-standing and dangerous one. As to the second part, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 21st March to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Bradley). —[Vol. 870, c.150–1.]