§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information is available to his Department about the relative risk of death or serious injury to children in car crashes when the child is not wearing a suitable restraint and is seated (a) in the front of the car and (b) in the back.
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§ Mr. Peter BottomleyVarious studies have shown that an unrestrained child is safer in the rear than in the front of a car. Relative accident rates are not available from United Kingdom national statistics. An unrestrained child is much more likely to be injured or killed in an accident than a restrained child.
Information on child restraints is available through the Department's freephone road safety information service 0800 234 888. I strongly advice parents to fit and use child restraints.
§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department takes to prevent the use of ineffective or unsafe safety devices for children in cars.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyOur regulations require child restraints used in cars to be approved to the appropriate British standards or United Nations Economic Commission for Europe regulations. These standards are kept under review and amended as necessary to increase the safety of child restraints.