§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department's research into the involvement of drugs in road traffic accidents with particular reference to(a) road traffic accident and (b) road traffic accidents involving pedestrians. [112077]
§ Mr. HillThe Department's research into the numbers of road accident fatalities (drivers/riders, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians) with a measurable trace of drugs in their body will be published in July. The research will help to provide data on the incidence of drugs—both illegal and medicinal. However, the presence of drugs in a fatality is not evidence of accident causation, although there may be an association.
Drugs and driving is an issue addressed in our road safety strategy, on which an announcement is to be made tomorrow. Relevant documents will be placed in the Library tomorrow morning.