HC Deb 16 February 1981 vol 999 cc56-7W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will publish in the Official Report as much detailed information as is in the possession of his Department on the numbers of children killed and injured whilst being driven in a car seated in the front scat with and without the use of a seat belt, and similar details for sitting in the rear seat without a seat belt.

Mr. Fowler

Information from police reports of accidents involving injury to children under 13 from 1970 to 1979 is as follows:

Front seat:
Restrained Unrestrained
Killed 15 178
Seriously Injured 338 3,644
Rear seat:
Restrained Unrestrained
Killed 12 379
Seriously Injured 212 6,428

Some reports of restrained but fatally-injured children between 1972–1977 were followed up by the transport and road research laboratory. Most of the accidents were found to be particularly severe but in some it was found that the child had not, in fact, been restrained.

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