§ Mr. Iremongerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish, before the end of the Summer Recess, figures analysing all accidents involving motor cyclists and indicating separately all such accidents involving 16-year-old riders.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsFigures of accidents involving motor-cycles, scooters and mopeds, including an analysis of rider casualties according to age, is given in the Department's publication "Road Accidents 1969", a copy of which is kept in the House of Commons Library.
§ Mr. Iremongerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state on what occasions the age limit for motor cyclists has been raised and what the accident figures were before and after each such occasion.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsThe motor-cycling age limit was raised from 14 to 16 on 1st December, 1930. Accident statistics on the basis of those now kept are not available for the period before and after that change.
§ Mr. Iremongerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies he has made of road accidents suffered by 16-year-old drivers of three-wheeled cars.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsI have not made any special study of these vehicles but I will consider any representations made by my hon. Friend.
Mr. Bob Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what estimate he has made of the numbers and percentages of motorists in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newburn Urban District and the Northern Region who wear seat belts;
(2) what estimate he has made of the number and percentage of drivers in the South-East Region who wear seat belts;
(3) what estimate he has made of the number and percentage of drivers in England who wear seat belts;
(4) what estimate he has made of the number of front-seat passengers in the Northern Region, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and in Newburn urban district who wear seat belts;
446W(5) what estimate he has made of the number and percentage of front-seat passengers in the South-East Region who wear seat belts;
(6) what estimate he has made of the number and percentage of front-seat passengers in England who wear seat belts;
(7) what estimate he has made of the number of drivers who suffered fatal injuries in road accidents in the previous 12 months whose lives may have been saved by wearing a seat belt;
(8) what estimate he has made of the number of occupants of cars who suffer fatal injuries as a result of being thrown from the car due to a door bursting open following a collision;
(9) what estimate he has made of the number and percentage of cars at present fitted with anti-burst door locks;
(10) what evidence he has to indicate how many drivers or front-seat passengers who suffered fatal injuries in road accidents in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the previous 12 months would have survived had they been wearing seat belts;
(11) what estimate he has made of the extra number and percentage of drivers and front-seat passengers who would wear seat belts if automatic seat belts were standard rather than static belts.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsI will write to the hon. Member.