HC Deb 11 July 1983 vol 45 c246W
47. Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of the number of coach accidents resulting in passengers sustaining serious injuries through being thrown about after impact, he will investigate the possibility of introducing seat belts in long-distance coaches; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

The best protection for the majority of passengers is to have a strong seat in front of them so that in an accident they are retained between the seats. We are pressing for international agreement to a new regulation for the strength of coach seats.

Front seat passengers will require some other means of protection and we shall discuss the advisability of belts for these seats, once the technical difficulty of providing adequate anchorage points has been resolved.