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Dept for Transport

Answer

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of road accidents in 2003 were caused by (a) people driving without insurance, (b) people in cars without a valid MOT certificate, (c) cars not licensed, (d) people driving while disqualified or without valid licences, (e) drivers under the influence of drugs, (f) drivers under the influence of alcohol, (g) drivers who had fallen asleep at the wheel and (h) drivers driving stolen vehicles. [181498] Dr. Howells: [holding answer 29 June 2004]: Routine statistics do not record the primary cause of a road accident. However, research conducted on behalf of the Department for Transport has estimated on the basis of limited information that just over 3 per cent. of all personal injury crashes involve a driver subsequently prosecuted for unlicensed driving, which included driving while disqualified. Research also indicates that driver fatigue accounts for about 10 per cent. of all accidents on the road network in Great Britain. Under a pilot scheme some police forces have provided information on the factors that may have contributed to an accident. The data provided for 2003 indicates that in 1 per cent. of accidents within the pilot scheme driver fatigue was a contributory factor. This data is based on the opinions of police officers or, in the case of accidents reported by a member of the public at a police station, determined from the description of the accident. This pilot scheme also indicates that driver impairment due to drugs was a contributory factor in 1 per cent. of all accidents. Provisional estimates for 2002 indicate that 6 per cent. of all accidents involved a driver who had blood alcohol levels in excess of the legal limit. Information on accidents caused by people driving without insurance, a valid MOT certificate, driving in unlicensed cars, or drivers of stolen vehicles is not recorded in the national accident data collection system and therefore the data is not available.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

181498; 423 c490-1W;423 c490W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Accidents Dangerous driving Licensing Insurance Driving under influence Roads

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk