§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the percentage of road accidents which are contributed to by road design faults; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyAccident causes are not included on routine accident reports. However, in-depth studies of a sample of accidents in the 1970s indicated the following contributions of different factors:
- (i) road environment alone: 2½ per cent. of accidents;
- (ii) road environment and road user combined: 24 per cent. of accidents;
- (iii) road environment combined with other factors: 1½ per cent. of accidents.
The figures quoted are from TRRL report SR 567. Causes are not included in routine (Stats 19) reports, because it is usually impossible for a police officer to make a proper assessment.
§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the number of accidents per road mile during the last three years in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the Greater Manchester council area, (c) Bolton district council area and (d) Bolton, North-East parliamentary constituency area.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyAccident rate, per kilometre, Great Britain, Greater Manchester and Bolton district council areas, 1982–84.
154Wpromulgated in directive EC 84/424. The details are set out in my hon. Friend, the then Minister of State for Transport's reply of 22 October 1984 in column 419 of the Official Report. We shall be amending national regulations to make compliance with these limits compulsory from the earliest dates permitted by the directive.