§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what statistical evidence is available to support the view that it should not be made compulsory for car passengers in rear seats to wear seat belts.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyStudies done in recent years, at TRRL and elsewhere, have shown that wearing seat belts saves lives, and leads to less serious injuries being sustained in many types of accident.
We encourage all car passengers to use seat belts at all times. Making rear seat belt wearing compulsory before a 368W majority of cars are fitted with such belts could be premature. We have recently introduced legislation to ensure that new cars do have such belts fitted.
Legislation has recently been passed which, from 1 September, will require children to be restrained where appropriate restraints exist.