HC Deb 02 June 1980 vol 985 c569W
Mr. Iain Mills

asked the Minister of Transport how many car accidents involving death, injury or serious damage have occurred in which tyres were the primary or contributory factor.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

Routine identification of primary or contributory causes of accidents is not possible on a national basis.

However, of 2,000 accidents investigated " on the spot ", in the area around the Transport and Road Research Laboratory in the period 1970 to 1974, tyre defects were judged to be a main contributory factor in under 3 per cent. of the cases.