HC Deb 28 March 1977 vol 929 cc45-50W
Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the number of (a) Minis, (b) Renault 4s and (c) other vehicles with automatic transmission issued to eligible disabled persons in each of the last 20 years;

(2) if he will list the number of (a) Minis, (b) Renault 4s and (c) other vehicles with manual transmission issued to eligible disabled persons in each of the last 20 years.

Mr. Alfred Morris

During 1976 the following new or reconditioned vehicles were issued:

Motor-cars

  • 1,190 Minis with manual gear change.
  • 545 Minis with automatic transmission.
  • 180 others (predominantly Renault 4)—all with manual gear change.

Three-wheelers

  • 211 with manual gear change.
  • 3,448 with automatic transmission.

The Renault 4 is not available with automatic transmission. All three-wheelers manufactured since the middle of 1971 have automatic transmission. Information in respect of earlier years could not be extracted without a disproportionate use of resources.

Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost of providing driving tuition in each of the last 20 years to disabled persons issued with (a) cars with manual transmission (b) cars with automatic transmission (c) invalid tricyles with manual transmission and (d) invalid tricycles with automatic transmission.

Mr. Alfred Morris

The information could not be extracted without a disproportionate use of resources.

Mr. Pardoe

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the full accident statistics relating to invalid tricycles with manual gearbox, automatic transmission, electrically-propelled models and four-wheeled vehicles, respectively, in England for the years ended 30th September 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively, listing all the information, under the categories as supplied by his Department for publication in Motor magazine on 14th August 1974;

(2) if he will list the total number of injury accidents per 1,000 disabled drivers and the accident involvement rate resulting in injury to drivers per 100 million miles for England, for invalid tricycles with manual gearbox, automatic transmission and four-wheeled vehicles, respectively, for the years ended 30th September 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively;

(3) if he will publish in the Official Report the incidence of drivers injured in accidents involving invalid tricycles with manual gearbox, automatic transmission and electrically-propelled models, respectively, in England for the years ended 30th September 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively, under each appropriate type.

(4) if he will list in the Official Report the injury accident rate per million miles for invalid tricycles with manual gearbox, automatic transmission and four-wheeled vehicles, respectively, in England for the years ended 30th September 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively.

Mr. Alfred Morris

The information relating to the years ended 30th September 1973, 1974 and 1975 is set out in my replies to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Lewis) on 29th October 1975 and 19th October 1976 and to the hon. Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 11th November 1975.—[Vol. 898, c.522–6; Vol. 917, c. 389–90; Vol. 899, c. 632–4.]

The following tables set out the information for the year ended 30th September 1976. Information relating to injury accidents involving invalid three-wheelers is now separately identified in the Digest of Statistics "Road Accidents Great Britain" published annually by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

DRIVER INJURY ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DEPARTMENTAL THREE-WHEELERS AND CARS REPORTED DURING THE YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER 1976 ENGLAND
Per 1,000 drivers* Per million miles Per 100 million miles
Three-Wheelers:
Manual 17 4.46 446
Automatic 40 12.95 1,295
Electric 14 11.67 1,167
All three-wheelers 31 9.67 967
Cars 12 1.87 187

Information about non-driver injuries is not recorded.
* Net figures relating to the number of drivers at risk at the end of the period which is smaller than the total number of drivers at risk during the period. The figure for car drivers does not include additional drivers who may share the driving with either the disabled person to whom the car is issued or the person nominated to drive for him. The numbers of such drivers are now known.
† Including reserve vehicles. Vehicle mileage covered has been estimated and it is assumed that manual and automatic petrol three-wheelers cover the same mileage.

ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DEPARTMENTAL CARS AND THREE-WHEELERS REPORTED DURING THE PERIOD 1ST OCTOBER 1975 TO 30TH SEPTEMBER 1976 ENGLAND
Type of vehicle Vehicles at risk (000)† Total accidents Collision with another vehicle or pedestrian Collision with immovable object Overturned (including those allegedly blown over) Fire Others including theft, vandalism, damaged whilst parked Fatalities
Manoeuvring Travelling Manoeuvring Travelling
Model 70 3-wheelers 11.9 3,799 790 1,087 684 352 240 4 642 8
Other petrol 3-wheelers 7.7 1,004 275 374 69 63 34 0 189 2
Electric 3-wheelers 1.2 161 38 46 39 11 5 0 22 0
All 3-wheelers 20.7 4,964 1,103 1,507 792 426 279 4 853 10
Departmental cars 10.3 1,996 428 795 102 116 12 541 0

DRIVER CASUALTIES
Type of Injury Three-Wheelers Cars
Automatic Manual Electric
Minor cuts, bruises or concussion 350 74 10 78
Severe cuts and bruises 79 19 3 20
Broken ribs etc., necessitating admission to hospital 30 10 1 19
Serious multiple injuries 2 0 0 2
Fatalities 8 2 0 0
INJURY ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DEPARTMENTAL CARS AND THREE-WHEELERS REPORTED DURING PERIOD 1ST OCTOBER 1975 TO 3RD SEPTEMBER 1976—ENGLAND
Total accidents Collision with another vehicle or pedestrian Collision with immovable object Overturned (including those allegedly blown over Fire Others including theft, vandalism, damaged while parked
Manoeuvring Travelling Manoeuvring Travelling
Three-Wheelers:
All accident injuries (excluding fatalities) 578 38 282 19 119 116 0 4
Minor cuts, bruises, concussion 434 30 206 12 95 88 0 3
Severe cuts, bruises, etc. 101 7 51 6 15 22 0 0
Broken ribs/limb necessitating admission to hospital 41 1 24 1 9 5 0 1
Serious multiple injuries 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0
Fatalities 10 0 7 0 3 0 0 0
Departmental Cars:
All accident injuries 119 18 83 3 11 0 0 4
Minor cuts, bruises, concussion 78 13 51 2 9 0 0 3
Severe cuts, bruises, etc. 20 4 15 0 1 0 0 0
Broken ribs/limb necessitating admission to hospital 19 1 15 1 1 0 0 1
Serious multiple injuries 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
Fatalities 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Including reserve vehicles. Fleet size at 30th September 1976.
Manoeuvring—D.H.S.S. vehicle in collision while parking.
Travelling—D.H.S.S. vehicle in collision while travelling on public road.