§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost to public funds, for each of the last five years, of motor accidents where excess alcohol consumption was the principal cause.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe information requested is not available in the specified format. Estimates are made of costs of road accidents under five headings, and are given in the table. These are total costs, for all accidents, including damage-only accidents, in Great Britain.
92W
Estimated costs of road accidents: Great Britain: 1986 £ million Lost output 860 Medical and ambulance costs 150 Police and insurance administration 160 Damage to property 1,170 Pain, grief and suffering 1,470 Total 3,800
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe severity of road accidents, particularly those involving pedestrians, is related to the speed of impact—which is not necessarily the speed of travel. The table indicates that fatality rates are higher on high speed roads.
The costs per accident, by severity, are also estimated, as follows.
Average cost per accident by severity: Great Britain: 1986 Fatal Serious Slight Lost output 151,203 1,1982 28 Medical and ambulance costs 1,174 2,069 105 Police and insurance administration 347 277 208 Damage to property 1,982 1,568 1,116 Pain, grief and suffering 145,134 12,287 229 Total 299,840 18,182 1,686