§ Mr. Gerald Howarthasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish for each of the years 1970 to 1983 (a) the number of deaths and (b) the number of serious injuries attributable to the non-wearing of seat belts.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIt is not possible to provide reliable estimates for individual years from 1970 to 1983. On the basis of the observed reduction in casualties since compulsory wearing was introduced, it is estimated that if all front seat car and van occupants had worn seat belts, around 9,000 fatalities and 120,000 serious injuries to car and van users would have been averted over the whole 14-year period.