asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements are at present made for the reporting by police officers of the causes of accidents and, in particular, whether an accident involving personal injury or death was caused wholly or partially due to the defective condition of brakes; and whether he will take steps to improve such procedures.

The causes of accidents are complex and their determination calls for special skills. The most effective means of providing information for the purposes of road safety is for scientific teams to conduct sample surveys in depth, in co-operation with the police. Recent research in the area around the TRRL suggests that braking defects play a major part in less than 3 per cent. of accidents.