§ Miss LestorTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give figures for each year for the last five years, of how many accidents have been reported involving motor-cycle couriers who have not passed their driving test.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe information collected by the Department on road injury accidents does not record whether the rider of a motor cycle was a courier or whether the rider had passed the driving test.
197WThe number of accidents involving motor cycles in 1987 was 46,059. In 3 per cent. of these, the motor cycle was recorded as having L plates. Similar figures for 1983 were 64,175 accidents, in 7 per cent. of which the presence of L plates was recorded.
The fact that a vehicle has L plates attached does not always necessarily mean the rider is a learner. Also, the non-recording of L plates does not mean the rider has passed the test.