§ 76. Mr. Peter M. Jacksonasked the Minister of Transport if, in view of serious defects, she will consider revising the British Standards Specification 3254/1960 for car safety belts and harness.
§ Mr. SwinglerWhile most standards need revising from time to time, we do not agree that BS 3254 for car safety belts and harness contains serious defects. If my hon. Friend has in mind a recent article in a Sunday newspaper I would remind him that the Road Research Laboratory's estimate that serious injuries were reduced by 70 per cent. when safety belts were worn was based upon actual accidents with these seat belts and that less than ½ per cent. of the seat belts278W failed. It is significant that surprisingly few injuries were sustained after failure of these few belts, presumably because the belts had done their job of restraint against the first violent shock.
To increase the strength of seat belts to the extent suggested in this article would be of little benefit in these cases and might increase the chances and severity of injuries caused by the seat belt itself. Because it takes no account of such factors the article will have done a great disservice to road safety if the assertions it makes discourage anyone from fitting or wearing seat belts.