§ Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake a review of the(a) law on and (b) penalties for (i) failing to stop and (ii) failing to summon assistance after a road crash. [154916]
§ Caroline Flint[holding answer 12 February 2004]: I have been asked to reply.
Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 imposes a duty on drivers to stop and report accidents in which personal injury or damage to other vehicles is caused. Failing to summon assistance is not an offence. Failure to comply with any of the requirements of section 170 is a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment or a fine not exceeding £5,000, or both.
We are currently reviewing road traffic offences involving bad driving and intend to issue a consultation paper on this shortly. Failing to stop and report an accident falls outside the scope of the review (although if the accident were itself caused by bad driving this would be covered). Nevertheless we will of course look carefully at any representations made during the consultation.
§ Mr. Damian GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents involving car drivers overtaking lorries on single carriageway roads occurred in each year since 2000. [157001]
§ Mr. JamiesonInformation on road accidents which only involve damage to property are not available. The table below shows the number of road accidents involving personal injury on single carriageway roads in which at least one heavy goods vehicle and at least one car overtaking a moving vehicle were involved.
648W
Number of Accidents Number 2000 317 2001 348 2002 300