§ Mr. Wigginasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the number of vehicles that do not now contain seat belts for driver and front-seat passengers.
§ Mr. PeytonAbout 20 per cent.
§ Mr. Wigginasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what effect his Department's advertising campaign to promote the wearing of seat belts has had.
§ Mr. PeytonThe advertising campaign has not yet reached the whole country. The best result obtained has been an average wearing rate of just under 30 per cent. compared with about 15 per cent. before the campaign.
§ Mr. Wigginasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to obtain and publish statistics on the reduction in injury caused in Australia by the imposition of a law to make the wearing of seat belts compulsory.
§ Mr. PeytonReductions of between 15 per cent. and 20 per cent. in front seat casualties were experienced in the first year following the legislation.
§ Mr. Wigginasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the reduction in casualty figures which would result in any one year from the compulsory wearing of seat belts.
§ Mr. PeytonI estimate that if everyone were to use the belts currently available about 15,000 fatal or serious casualties would be avoided this year.
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§ Mr. Wigginasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to obtain and publish statistics on the reduction in injury caused in New Zealand by the imposition of a law to make the wearing of seat belts compulsory.
§ Mr. PeytonAs the law only took effect in July, 1972, comprehensive statistics are not yet available. I understand that the New Zealand Government are confident that the rate of injuries has fallen.