Transport written question – answered at on 1 April 2008.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) deaths and (b) injuries have been caused by other vehicles hitting a heavy goods vehicle in each of the last 10 years; how many of these were attributed to poor visibility; and if she will make a statement.
The numbers of (a) killed and (b) injured casualties resulting from reported personal injury road accidents involving at least one heavy goods vehicle and at least one other motor vehicle in Great Britain in 1997 to 2006 are shown in the following table. It is not possible to determine the number of these accidents in which a heavy goods vehicle was hit by (rather than hit) another vehicle.
Number of casualties | ||
Killed | Injured( 1) | |
1997 | 399 | 15,580 |
1998 | 441 | 15,350 |
1999 | 465 | 16,244 |
2000 | 412 | 16,334 |
2001 | 415 | 15,850 |
2002 | 380 | 14,453 |
2003 | 391 | 14,317 |
2004 | 321 | 13,413 |
2005 | 370 | 13,014 |
2006 | 302 | 12,094 |
(1) Seriously or slightly injured |
Details of contributory factors to road accidents have been recorded since 2005. In 2005 there were a total of 21 fatalities and 700 people injured in accidents involving at least one heavy goods vehicle and at least one other motor vehicle which had "vision affected" recorded as a contributory factor. In 2006, the equivalent figures were 14 fatalities and 669 people injured.
The contributory factor category "vision affected by" includes contributory factors "stationary or parked vehicle(s)", "Vegetation", "Road layout (e.g. bend, winding road, hill crest)", "Buildings, road signs, street furniture", "Dazzling headlights", "Dazzling sun", "Rain, sleet, snow or fog", "Spray from other vehicles", "Visor or windscreen dirty or scratched" and "Vehicle blind spot".
Further information about contributory factors can be found in the 'Contributory factors to road accidents' article in 'Road Casualties Great Britain' at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/162259/162469/221412/221549/227755/rcgb2006v1.pdf
Yes1 person thinks so
No1 person thinks not
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