Written Question · S2W-09617 · Session 2
In how many road traffic accidents in each of the last five years one of the drivers was under the influence of illegal drugs, broken down …
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive in how many road traffic accidents in each of the last five years one of the drivers was under the influence of illegal drugs, broken down by police force area.
The answer
Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the Stats 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which one or more people were injured; they do not cover damage only accidents.
The Stats 19 returns do not record the causes of the accidents. Under a pilot scheme, 14 police forces across Great Britain have been voluntarily submitting information on contributory factors to accidents along with their Stats 19 returns. However, it is not possible to use the pilot contributory factor data to provide figures which are representative of accidents in Scotland because only two police forces in Scotland took part in the scheme. I understand that the UK Government is analysing the pilot data and will publish an article later this year.
Starting in January 2005, the pilot scheme will be replaced by a new set of questions on contributory factors, which will form an integral part of the Stats 19 injury road accident reporting system. Information about contributory factors should thereafter be supplied by all police forces for personal injury accidents which are reported either (a) following attendance at the scene by a police officer or (b) by a member of the public to police staff at a police station. There will be a code to identify drivers who were “impaired by drugs (illicit or medicinal)”.
UK Government research, published in 2000, into the incidence of drugs in fatal road accident victims, including drivers, riders, passengers and pedestrians, found traces of illegal drugs in 18% of the sample group and traces of medicinal drugs in a further 6%. The research also found traces of alcohol in 32% of the samples (22% of the samples being over the drink drive limit). The research report TRL495 is available on the TRL website at http://www.trl.co.uk/1024/mainpage.asp?page=141.
The Stats 19 returns do not record the causes of the accidents. Under a pilot scheme, 14 police forces across Great Britain have been voluntarily submitting information on contributory factors to accidents along with their Stats 19 returns. However, it is not possible to use the pilot contributory factor data to provide figures which are representative of accidents in Scotland because only two police forces in Scotland took part in the scheme. I understand that the UK Government is analysing the pilot data and will publish an article later this year.
Starting in January 2005, the pilot scheme will be replaced by a new set of questions on contributory factors, which will form an integral part of the Stats 19 injury road accident reporting system. Information about contributory factors should thereafter be supplied by all police forces for personal injury accidents which are reported either (a) following attendance at the scene by a police officer or (b) by a member of the public to police staff at a police station. There will be a code to identify drivers who were “impaired by drugs (illicit or medicinal)”.
UK Government research, published in 2000, into the incidence of drugs in fatal road accident victims, including drivers, riders, passengers and pedestrians, found traces of illegal drugs in 18% of the sample group and traces of medicinal drugs in a further 6%. The research also found traces of alcohol in 32% of the samples (22% of the samples being over the drink drive limit). The research report TRL495 is available on the TRL website at http://www.trl.co.uk/1024/mainpage.asp?page=141.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-09617 by reference.