Seat Belts: Back-seat Passengers (Hansard, 4 February 2002)

§ The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)
My Lords, the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions will continue with its publicity campaigns to encourage seat belt wearing, both in the front of vehicles and in the rear. The observed wearing rate in the rear of a vehicle by adults has increased to 56 per cent and further work is needed to improve on that. Enforcement of the law is for the police. In the year 2000 police in Great Britain issued over 188,000 fixed penalty not:ices and 8,700 prosecutions were undertaken. Some 6,000 formal written warnings were issued in England and Wales.

§ Lord Janner of Braunstone
My Lords, I thank my noble and learned friend for that Answer. Is he aware that seat belts worn in the rear of a vehicle would prevent some 80 per cent of the deaths of people sitting 457 in the front of vehicles? Should I infer from what he has said that so far the publicity campaign has largely been a failure because, on his admission, some 46 per cent of people in the rear of vehicles do not wear seat belts and that prosecutions have not had the desired effect? While recognising the results of the Japanese survey that show that people who sit in the front of vehicles are at such a huge danger from unbelted passengers in the rear, does he agree that the publicity campaign and the efforts to prosecute should be stepped up at once?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, the 80 per cent figure was based on the research carried out in Japan, which highlights the importance of wearing a rear seat belt. However, the research published in the Lancet is not indicative of the potential UK savings, because it was a survey of accidents and casualties in Japan where seat belt wearing in the rear of vehicles is not compulsory. The results cannot be read across directly for use in this country. Yes, there is certainly work to be carried out in persuading people to wear seat belts in the rear of cars, but it is worth pointing out that there has been an improvement from the figure of about 46 per cent of people who wear seat belts in the rear to the current figure, which is a significant increase.

§ Lord Walton of Detchant
My Lords, does the Minister accept that, while the wearing of seat belts in the rear of vehicles would prevent a great deal of death and disability, much attention needs to be paid by the manufacturers of seat belts to an improved design? Sometimes when one travels by London taxi one can be almost at one's destination before one has managed to fasten the seat belt. On the rare occasion when I am a back-seat passenger in my family car, similar difficulties arise. What are the Government doing to promote better design of rear seat belts?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, I have experienced difficulty in fastening seat belts—not because I am more water than fat, but for other reasons. It is important. Everybody agrees that if there is a seat belt it should be worn. That is the law now, save in exceptional cases. We want to promote that as much as possible. We shall speak to manufacturers about improving the design, but they are as aware as everybody else that because seat belts are compulsory front and back it is in their interests to have as easy a seat belt locking device as possible.

§ Lord Swinfen
My Lords, can the Minister tell the House what the insurance industry is doing to promote the wearing of seat belts, both front and rear?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, I cannot tell the House specifically what the insurance industry is doing, but I know that the insurance industry has greatly benefited from the increased use of seat belts. It is as aware of that as anybody.

§ Lord Faulkner of Worcester
My Lords, on the enforcement figures that my noble and learned friend has 458 given for the wearing of seat belts in the rear of vehicles, is he aware that many of us are puzzled that that law can be enforced on the basis of police observation, but it does not appear to be possible to enforce a similarly effective law dealing with the use of mobile phones by drivers on the basis of police observation?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, the use of mobile phones by drivers is an important issue. It contributes significantly to accidents. I do not have the statistics in relation to that. As my noble friend rightly points out, this is an area of the law that is enforced by police observation and it could be read across to other areas as well.

§ Lord Bradshaw
My Lords, on that point, the wearing of seat belts is subject to the law, which says that a person must wear a seat belt, whereas a driver using a mobile telephone has to be prosecuted by a policeman who observes him or her driving without due care and attention. The latter offence is very difficult to prove. Does that contribute to the fact that such offences are more prevalent than seat belt offences?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, I am unsure whether the noble Lord is suggesting that driving without due care and attention is more prevalent than seat belt offences. The figures in relation to the enforcement of seat belt wearing are 188,000 cases of fixed penalty notices. I do not have the precise figures, but I would imagine that that is much more than the figures for driving without due care and attention. That figure of 188,000 does not include the 8,683 cases taken to court. The principal point made by the noble Lord is plainly right. Under a fixed penalty system such a matter is easier to deal with than a case that has to go to court with all the attendant administration that that requires.

Lord Acton
My Lords, does my noble and learned friend

§ Viscount Astor
My Lords, may I congratulate the Minister

§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)
My Lords, perhaps the House should hear the noble Viscount, Lord Astor, first and then my noble friend Lord Acton.

§ Viscount Astor
My Lords, I should like to congratulate the Minister on the increasing percentage of people wearing rear seat belts. However, it was a Conservative government who brought in the legislation. I am delighted that the Minister is using it so well. Of the convictions that he mentioned in an earlier answer, how many relate to convictions for not wearing a seat belt in the front of a vehicle and how many relate to not wearing a seat belt in the rear?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, I do not have the breakdown between the front and the rear of vehicles. The noble Viscount is absolutely correct to say that the legislation was introduced by a 459 Conservative government. All noble Lords will agree that it is a sensible law. The correct course is to take as many steps as possible to ensure that it is enforced.

Lord Acton
My Lords, with no disrespect to the noble Viscount, Lord Astor, can the Leader of the House tell the House whether any Peer has priority? Does the Front Bench opposite have priority over 13ack-Benc:hers on this side?

§ Lord Williams of Mostyn
My Lords, that is the normal courtesy. Courtesy tends to be favoured in this House. If my noble friend Lord Acton has a question, he can ask it now.

Lord Acton
My Lords, thank you very much.

§ Lord Clinton-Davis
My Lords, can my noble and learned friend indicate whether his department will take into account the representations that have been made on all sides of the House in relation to this point and convene a meeting of all interested parties to discuss this important issue?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, it is an important issue. I do not know what else is taking place in relation to enforcement, but the right course is to ensure that all interested parties—the insurance industry, the car manufacturing industry and those concerned with road safety—are regularly consulted about the progress made in this area.