§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will take steps to advise parents of the dangers of carrying boys and girls under the age of 14 years in the front passenger seats of motor cars;
(2) if he will introduce legislation to forbid the carrying of persons below the age of 14 years in the front passenger seats of motor cars.
§ Mrs. ChalkerSection 28 of the Transport Act 1981, which came into force on 31 January this year, already makes it illegal, subject to a few exceptions, for a child under 14 to ride in the front seat of a car unless suitably406W restrained. For reasons which were extensively discussed before the legislation was passed, I do not consider that there can be an outright prohibition on children travelling in the front.
Advice on the law and on the safest means for children to travel in cars is contained in the Departments leaflet "Child Safety in Cars" which has been widely distributed free of charge. Copies are available in the Library.