§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the number of (a) deaths resulting from road accidents, (b) deaths attributable to the non-wearing of a seat belt, (c) serious injuries resulting from road accidents, and (d) serious injury attributable to the non-wearing of a seat belt, for each of the past five years.
§ Mr. FowlerThe available information is as follows: 359W
1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 Of which, not wearing seat belt*: Killed 1,990 1,900 2,080 1,940 1,850 Seriously injured 24,500 24,000 25,700 24,800 23,500 * includes those in vehicles without belts fitted, and an apportionment of those whose seat belt wearing was unknown. It is not possible to identify those cases where a seat belt would have averted death or serious injury, but it is estimated that unbelted occupants have around twice the chance of being killed or seriously injured as belted occupants.