§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the average cost to public funds of road accidents involving a single fatality. [46519]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe value attributed to the avoidance of a fatal road accident in 1996 was £983,700. This takes account of medical costs, lost production, human costs based on willingness to pay, the costs of police and courts, insurance administration, and property damage. Included in this value is a sum of £5,200 for the cost to public funds for medical costs and the costs of police and courts. The lost production element includes social security costs but these are not separately estimated.