§ Sir T. Kitsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of rear seat passengers killed or injured over the last five years; and what consideration he has given to the compulsory fitting of seat belts in new cars.
§ Dr. GilbertThe numbers of passengers killed and seriously injured in the rear seats of cars and vans under 30 cwt. during the past five years are as follows:
Killed Seriously Injured 1970 520 8,692 1971 510 8,364 1972 533 7,181 1973 467 6,899 1974 421 6,230 If seat belts had been fitted and worn, about half these casualties could have been avoided. An EEC directive now in draft would require manufacturers to fit rear seat belts in new cars.