§ Mr. Kershawasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to come to a conclusion as to whether laminated glass windscreens should be made obligatory, in view of tests made by his Department showing the greatly increased safety of laminated as opposed to toughened glass.
§ Dr. GilbertSurveys have suggested that laminated glass windscreens resist external damage better than toughened glass, but there is no evidence that shattering is a significant cause of accidents. In only two of the 1,316 injury accidents recently investigated by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory was it judged to have been a factor. When an accident has occurred both laminated and toughened glass windscreens alike can cause injury, but many of the injuries that occur could be avoided by drivers and front seat passengers wearing their seat belts. On present evidence the claimed advantages of laminated glass do not appear to justify the additional cost for vehicle owners of making its use obligatory. This view is shared by the majority of EEC member States.