§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children under the age of five years have been killed in traffic accidents in which the vehicle driver was found to be intoxicated with alcohol.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIn 1986, two children under the age of five years were killed in accidents where at least one of the drivers involved had a blood or breath alcohol content above the legal limit. In 1987, three children under five years were killed in accidents where a driver involved failed a roadside breath test. The accidents where a driver was killed and found to have a high blood alcohol content have not yet been completely indentified for 1987.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities and serious injuries concerning children under five years travelling in vehicles involved in traffic accidents took place in the years 1980 to 1988; and how many of these children were travelling in car safety seats.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe table shows the numbers of children under five years who suffered fatal or serious injuries in road accidents while they were travelling in cars or other motor vehicles. It also shows the percentage of these child casualties who were recorded as using a child restraint or seat belt.
Casualties (fatal and serious) among children aged 0-4 travelling in motor vehicles: Great Britain: 1980–1987 Year Vehicle type Percentage of (a) restrained (a) Cars (b) Other motor vehicles 1980 329 39 6 1981 306 48 9 1982 330 36 11 1983 310 34 15 1984 381 33 19 1985 357 33 15 1986 390 30 19 1987 403 28 20 It is obvious that the numbers are influenced by the spreading family use of cars and the percentage by the growing installation and use of restraints by child passengers.