HC Deb 10 February 1997 vol 290 c70W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what percentage of fatalities on United Kingdom roads were due to drink-driving offences in the last year for which figures are available; [14920]

(2) what percentage of fatalities on United Kingdom roads were due simply to errors of judgment committed by sober drivers in the last year for which figures are available; [14921]

(3) how many driving-related fatalities occurred in the last year for which figures are available. [14874]

Mr. Bowis

Latest provisional estimates indicate that, in 1995, there were 580 fatalities in drink drive accidents accounting for 16 per cent, of all fatalities on public roads in Great Britain. On these same roads, there is no evidence available to assess the effect of driver error on fatalities in road accidents. However, research indicates that errors of judgment by road users, whether sober or not, is a contributory factor in about 95 per cent, of road accidents. In 1995, there were 3,590 fatalities in road accidents involving motorised vehicles.