HC Deb 09 January 1990 vol 164 cc582-3W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to reduce the level of car accidents from the current level.

Mr. Atkins

[holding answer 8 January 1990]: We aim to reduce road casualties, including car accidents, by a third by the year 2000. Copies of the second annual progress report "Road Casualty Reduction" are in the Library. Action covers roads, vehicles and drivers. Key features are bypasses, low-cost local safety schemes, traffic calming in residential areas, better signing and lighting, improved vehicle safety standards, effective driver training and testing and a developing framework of road traffic law and enforcement measures to foster sensible driving behaviour.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been undertaken into the number of fatal accidents involving two-door as against four-door cars.

Mr. Atkins

[holding answer 8 January 1990]: I am not aware of any specific research on this topic. The Department's database on accidents involving injuries to car occupants indicates that the ratio of two or three-door cars to four or five-door cars involved in fatal accidents follows closely their respective ratios in the car population. The following table illustrates this for the year ending 31 December 1988.

per cent.
2/3 Doors 4/5 Doors Estates
Total GB population (cars in 1988) 37.8 53.7 8.5
Fatal Accidents 38.9 53.4 7.7

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