§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to ensure that motor car bodies fulfil certain minimum requirements in terms of strength as a safety measure.
§ Dr. GilbertI have no proposals at present. In a collision the crumpling of a vehicle's bodywork absorbs some of the force of the impact. Research into the optimum strength of vehicle bodies is in progress, but our immediate aim, as far as dealing with the effects of accidents is concerned, is to concentrate on those factors most likely to minimise injuries. These include the strength of door latches138W and hinges, protective steering mechanisms, and seat belts and their anchorages.