§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what criteria are used by his Department in determining the cost of a road accident for a(a) fatality, (b) serious injury and (c) slight injury; and in each case what is the current figure. [90822]
§ Ms Glenda Jackson[holding answer 12 July 1999]: The values for the prevention of road casualties take account of the following criteria: medical costs, lost production, human costs based on willingness to pay, the cost of police and courts, insurance administration, and property damage. The values attributed to the prevention of death and injury in a road accident in 1997 prices were (a) fatal £902,500; (b) serious accident £102,880; and (c) slight accident £7,970. The value of the prevention of an accident is slightly higher in each case, because there may be more than one casualty. Detailed figures are published in Highways Economic Note 1, copies of which are in the Library of the House.