HC Deb 26 June 1984 vol 62 cc398-9W
Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities occurred on motorways in England in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

The number of fatalities on motorways in England in each of the past five years was as follows:

Number
1979 180
1980 174
1981 184
1982 181
1983 170*
* Provisional

Notwithstanding these fatalities, motorways have the lowest fatality rate of all types of road: 0.6 fatalities per 100 million vehicle-kilometres, compared with a rate of 2.5 for other roads.

Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current estimated cost of a fatal accident on a motorway (a) at night and (b) during the day.

Mrs. Chalker

It is estimated that the costs per fatal accident on motorways in 1982 are as follows:

  1. (a) £171,490 for night-time accidents
  2. (b) £162,390 for day-time accidents.

Provisional estimates for 1983 are as follows:

  1. (a) £178,050 (night)
  2. (b) £205,460 (day).

Those estimates comprise resource costs and an allowance for pain, grief and suffering.

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