HC Deb 17 April 1978 vol 948 cc1-2W
Mr. Rose

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what proportion of road accidents in which a driver failed subsequently to stop recorded in 1977 involved injury to the person; and how this compares with 1972 and 1976;

(2) what are the national figures for injury and death caused by accidents in which the driver failed to stop following the accident.

Mr. Horam

I regret that the information is not available nationally.

Mr. Rose

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in the light of the pattern of road accidents in which a driver failed subsequently to stop in the Greater Manchester area showing that 19.4 per cent. occurred between 10 p.m. and 12 p.m., he will initiate a study of the relationship between such accidents and driving with more than the permitted amount of alcohol.

Mr. Horam

We have already authorised the use of a new police injury accident report form—Stats 19—which includes provision to record hit-and-run incidents. This is being introduced progressively and will provide information about the general pattern of these accidents, which can then be compared with the pattern of drinking and driving accidents. By the nature of the offence it is not usually possible to determine whether hit-and-run drivers have more than the permitted amount of alcohol in their bodies.

Mr. Rose

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will set up an interdepartmental committee with the Home Office and Lord Chancellor's Office to consider the effectiveness of the current law relating to hit-and-run accidents and the appropriateness of the current maximum penalty for such failure to stop after an accident.

Mr. Horam

No. We do not think that such a committee would be useful.

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