HC Deb 26 October 1988 vol 139 cc256-7W
Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons convicted of failure to wear a seat belt were (a) male and (b) female; and what is the percentage of the latter to the former, in each month since 1983;

(2) how many persons convicted of failure to wear a seat belt in the Basildon area were (a) male and (b) female; and what is the percentage of the latter to the former, in each month since 1983;

(3) how many persons were convicted of failure to wear a seat belt in each month since 1983;

(4) what is the average fine in England and Wales for failure to wear a seat belt;

(5) how many persons were convicted of failure to wear a seat belt in the Basildon area since 1983.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The information which could be provided without disproportionate cost is given in the table. Total findings of guilt for all seat belt offences are published annually in table 5 of "Offences relating to motor vehicles, England and Wales, supplementary tables", the latest issue of which relates to 1986; the issue for 1987 will be published soon. In 1986, the average fine imposed by magistrates' courts for seat belt offences was £15.

1985 1986
Male Female Total Percentage male Male Female Total Percentage male
September 1,278 138 1,416 90 1,682 177 1,859 90
October 1,351 150 1,501 90 1,705 227 1,932 88
November 1,221 127 1,348 91 1,445 120 1,565 92
December 945 105 1,050 90 1,074 98 1,172 92
Total 12,735 1,380 14,115 90 17,310 1,901 19,211 90
Billericay Magistrates' Court
January 13 — 13 2 13 — 13 2
February 14 — 14 2 6 1 7 2
March 7 1 8 2 9 2 11 2
April 14 1 15 2 7 1 8 2
May 21 2 23 2 8 3 11 2
June 13 1 14 2 14 1 15 2
July 17 3 20 2 7 — 7 2
August 16 1 17 2 6 — 6 2
September 6 2 8 2 5 — 5 2
October 24 2 26 2 6 1 7 2
November 17 5 22 2 2 — 2 2
December 11 1 12 2 — 1 1 2
Total 173 19 192 90 83 10 93 89
1 Driving or riding in a motor vehicle not wearing a seat belt or driving motor vehicle with child in the front not wearing a seat belt.
2 Percentages not calculated because of the small numbers involved.

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