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Home Office

Answer

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of drivers failed a breath test during December in each year since 1997; [147925] (2) how many breath tests were taken by drivers in each year since 1997; and how many accidents were caused by drunk drivers in each year since 1997. [147926] Ms Blears: Information for England and Wales is given in the tables. Table A--Screening breath tests and the number and percentage of positive or refused within the month of December, 1997-20011--England and Wales _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Total tests Positive/refused Percentage positive/ refused 1997 142,900 9,100 6 1998 142,500 8,100 6 1999 120,300 8,900 7 2000 107,600 8,900 8 2001 99,100 9,000 9 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Figures for 2002 are not available. Source: Home Office Table B--Number of screening breath tests, 1997-20011-- England and Wales _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Total number of breath tests 1997 800,300 1998 815,500 1999 764,500 2000 714,800 2001 623,900 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Figures for 2002 are not available. Source: Home Office Table C--Accidents in which at least one driver provided a positive breath test or refused, 1997-2002--England and Wales _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Accident severity Total number of Fatal Serious Slight accidents 1997 7,309 131 1,609 5,569 1998 6,916 111 1,419 5,386 1999 6,982 88 1,319 5,575 2000 7,391 98 1,370 5,923 2001 7,534 98 1,433 6,003 2002 7,555 91 1,395 6,069 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Source: Department of Transport

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

416 c1212W; 147925;147926

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Accidents Breathalysers Driving Driving under influence Roads

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

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