§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Minister of Transport what was the number of (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries from road traffic accidents in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe information requested is as follows:
is not possible to give very accurate or reliable figures:
Current prices £ million 1978 prices £ million 1978* 8 8 1977 7 7 1976 6 7 1975 5 7 1974 4 7 * Provisional.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Minister of Transport what is his estimate of the cost to the economy through loss of earnings from road traffic accidents in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeOur best estimate of the cost is as follows:
Current prices £ million 1978 prices £ million 1978 315 315 1977 282 303 1976 237 299 1975 201 289 1974 173 310 The information for 1978 is provisional.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Minister of Transport what is his estimate of the savings to the economy through the reduction of loss of earnings following road traffic accidents if the wearing of seat belts were made compulsory.
§ Mr. FowlerIt is impossible to put a precise figure on this because no one can say what the wearing rate would be if compulsion were introduced. However, if all drivers and front-seat passengers of cars chose to wear a seat belt whenever they travelled, savings in lost 759W output could, it is estimated, be in the region of £45 million a year at 1978 prices.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Minister of Transport what is his estimate of the annual savings to (a) the National Health Service, (b) local authorities and (c) social security that would result from the reduction in road traffic accidents if seat belts were made compulsory.
§ Mr. FowlerA recent estimate indicated that the annual savings from reduction of casualties if all drivers and front-seat passengers of cars wore seat belts would be some £4 million to £5 million on the National Health Service and of the order of £7 million in social security payments. There would not be significant savings to local authorities.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Minister of Transport what is his estimate of the reduction in the number of (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries from road traffic accidents that would result if the wearing of seat belts were to be made compulsory.
§ Mr. FowlerI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on Wednesday 27 June.