§ Mr. Martlewasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will provide details of the latest research into the effectiveness of seat belt and child restraint use in reducing the severity of injury of children in cars;
(2) what information he has as to the proportion of children who are currently restrained in the rear of cars.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleySurveys published by the Department's Transport and Road Research Laboratory show that between 1982 and 1986 the overall wearing rate for all child occupants in the rear of cars has increased from 26 per cent. to 31 per cent. The highest increase is for those under one year old. The results of the surveys were as follows:
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyAbout half the cars currently registered have rear anchorage points but no rear seat belts. The great majority of these were first registered between April 1982—when rear anchorages became a mandatory requirement—and April 1987 when rear seat belts became a mandatory requirement. It is not planned to require the retrospective fitment of rear seat belts to these or earlier registered vehicles.
We do encourage the fitting and use of rear restraints for children and adults.