26. Mr. Andy StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were killed or injured on United Kingdom roads in 1987 and in 1986.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe total number of casualties in the United Kingdom in 1986 was 331,000 of whom 5,600 were killed. In 1987, the corresponding figures were 321,000 casualties in total, of whom 5,300 were killed. The total number of casualties was down 3 per cent. on the previous year and the fatalities were down by 5 per cent.
A fuller breakdown of the Northern Irish component of these figures is given in the Royal Ulster Constabulary's publication entitled "Road Traffic Accident Statistics Annual Report".
The Great Britain component of these figures is broken down in more detail in "Road Accidents Great Britain". The 1986 figures have been published and are available in the Library: the 1987 figures will be published shortly.
The total number of casualties in Great Britain in 1987 was 311,500, of whom 5,100 were killed, and 64,300 were 157W seriously injured. The corresponding figures for 1986 were 321,500 casualties, 5,400 of whom were killed and 68,800 were seriously injured. The total number of casualties in 1987 was 3 per cent. below the number in 1986; fatalities were down by nearly 5 per cent.
The Secretary of State has set a target of reducing casualties by one third by the year 2000.