HC Deb 18 March 1999 vol 327 cc802-3W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military road traffic accidents were reported between April 1997 and March 1998; what was the road traffic accident rate per hundred thousand miles driven; what was the cost to (a) his Department and (b) the Army; and what was the cost of (i) compensation claims, (ii) loss of man hours, (iii) medical treatment, (iv) damage to other property, (v) damage to other vehicles and (vi) replacement vehicles. [75006]

Mr. Doug Henderson

[holding answer 8 March 1999]Between April 1997 and March 1998, there were a total of 9,075 road traffic accidents involving military personnel and MOD civilians. Based on the only available mileage data, for Royal Marine and Army units, this represents an estimated rate of two accidents per hundred thousand miles driven. The actual cost of insurance claims against the MOD, after taking into account costs recovered from third parties, was £13.62 million. The actual cost of MOD vehicle repairs was £5.07 million. The illustrative cost of fatalities and injuries to the Department, based on recognised costs provided by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, was £34.9 million. The estimate total cost to the Department, using Health and Safety Executive research methodology, may be up to £149.52 million. The specific cost of accidents to the Army, for loss of man hours, medical treatment, damage to other property, damage to other vehicles and replacement vehicles, is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Note:

The MOD operates a 100 per cent. accident reporting policy for insurance purposes, irrespective of whether an accident results in a fatality or injury. This differs from the DETR whose statistics are based on reportable accidents only, ie; those which result in an injury or fatality. Accidents involving MOD vehicles in the UK which result in a fatality or injury are reported to the police and by default, would be included in the DETR's national road traffic accident statistics.