§ Mr. Snapeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information he has of the frequency of the use by magistrates, in the exercise of their powers under section 93(7) of the Road Traffic Act 1972, to require motorists over the age of 60 years to retake a driving test when convicted;
(2) if he will give details of the number and ages, of those required in 1977, 1978 and 1979 to retake a driving test under the provisions of section 93(7) of the Road Traffic Act 1972.
§ Mr. BrittanThe numbers of motoring offences for which disqualification is imposed with a requirement for a driving test under section 93(7) of the Road Traffic Act 1972 are published annually in " Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales" (tables 11 and 12) of the volumes for 1977 (Cmnd 7349) and 1978 (Cmnd 7687). An age breakdown 29W for all such offences dealt with in. the magistrates' courts is given in the
FINDINGS OF GUILT IN MAGISTRATES' COURTS FOR MOTORING OFFENCES IN WHICH DISQUALIFICATION WAS IMPOSED, BY AGE OF OFFENDER AND WHETHER A REQUIREMENT WAS MADE FOR A DRIVING TEST ENGLAND AND WALES Number of offences Age of offender Total 1977 test required Test not required Total 1978 test required Test not required Under 21 … … 23,689 70 23,619 26,056 74 25,982 21 and over … 65,588 912 64,676 66,954 933 66,021 Total … … 89,277 982 88,295 93,010 1,007 92,003 The numbers of offenders aged over 60 is collected only for offences of causing death or bodily harm, of drinking and driving, and of unauthorised taking or theft of a motor vehicle, and for all cases which are committed to the Crown court. Of the 1,198 such offences dealt with at magistrates' courts in 1977 involving offenders over the age of 60 which resulted in disqualification, in 68 (6 per cent.) a requirement for a driving test was imposed; the corresponding figures for 1978 were 1,338 and 75 (6 per cent.).