§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give an estimate of the effect of motorways and other improved roads on accident rates and casualties.
§ Mr. FowlerThere is no doubt that road improvement and motorway building have helped reduce accident rates and casualties. Motorway accident rates are much lower than accident rates on other roads, but other road-safety measures have also had an effect and the total 451W improvements cannot be apportioned by particular causes. The following figures illustrate improvement since development of the motorway network began:
1960 1970 1979 Casualties ('000) built-up areas 253 263 240 non built-up areas (including motorways) 95 101 94 all areas 348 363 334 Injury accident rates (per 100 million vehicle kilometres) motorways 33 21 15 other non built-up areas * 66 50 built-up areas * 178 142 all areas 242 125 91 (*indicates not available.)