Written question asked by Lord Blencathra (Conservative) on Friday, 19 February 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 24 February 1999. It was answered by Lord Reid of Cardowan (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 February 1999 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) deaths and (b) serious accidents on the roads which are due to snow or icy road conditions. - Includes table.

Answer: Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) deaths and (b) serious accidents on the roads which are due to snow or icy road conditions. [72706] Dr. Reid: Information on the cause of road accidents is not available. However, the numbers of reported accidents occurring on icy or snowy road surfaces are contained in the following table: Number of casualties _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year of accident Severity 1995 1996 1997 Casualties on snowy or icy road surface Fatal 77 87 43 Serious 1,206 1,363 612 Slight 7,323 9,654 4,414 Total 8,606 11,104 5,069 Accidents on snowy or icy road surface Fatal 69 81 41 Serious 993 1,136 526 Slight 5,188 6,949 3,115 Total 6,250 8,166 3,682 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information