HC Deb 03 April 1984 vol 57 cc442-3W
Mr. Terlezki

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the trends in fatality statistics of motor accidents; and whether the proportion of fatalities caused by motor cycle accidents is increasing.

Mrs. Chalker

Statistics concerning fatal casualties between 1926 and 1982 are given in table 1 of "Road Accidents Great Britain 1982", which is available in the Library. Since 1972 the trend has been mostly downward.

The provisional number of fatalities in 1983 is 5,404, the lowest since 1956, and 70 per cent. of the 1972 figure. The proportion of fatalities in motor cycle accidents has decreased slowly since 1980. In 1982, 23 per cent. of fatalities were in accidents involving a two-wheeled motor vehicle, 19 per cent. being two-wheeled motor vehicle users.