ROAD ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DRUNKEN DRIVERS (Particulars)

Mr J. F. Conceicao asked the Minister for Home Affairs what was the frequency of road accidents involving drunken drivers, and the number of those injured and killed in such accidents, for the year ending 31st January, 1971.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr L. P. Rodrigo) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, traffic accidents involving drunken drivers have been few and far between.

For the year ending 31st January, 1971, there were only 21 of such cases. The frequency of these accidents thus varies from one to two accidents per month.

Of these 21 accidents, three drivers were seriously injured in three cases. In nine other cases, the passengers of the cars driven by these drivers under the influence of alcohol sustained slight injuries. As for the remaining nine cases, no one was injured at all.

Eleven drivers were prosecuted in court, resulting in six of them being convicted and five acquitted.

The remaining cases were not brought to court owing to insufficient evidence.

Mr Conceicao: Sir, can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs tell the House how these drunken drivers are identified?

Mr Rodrigo: Mr Speaker, Sir, these drivers have their blood and urine tested for alcohol, and they are further tested to find out how competent they are still to drive at that stage. The analysis is undertaken by the Chemistry Department in accordance with the Kozelka and Hine method through a process of steam distillation.

Mr Conceicao: Sir, can the Parliamentary Secretary inform the House whether, if the testing methods are improved, we could catch more drunken drivers?

Mr Rodrigo: I can certainly assure the Member of that, Sir.