§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the light of the most recent motorway coach accident, he will seek to make compulsory the wearing of seat belts by all coach passengers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIn most cases coach passengers have a high-backed seat immediately in front of them which provides impact protection and keeps them within the limits of their seating space in the event of a frontal collision. It is passengers without a seat immediately in front of them that are most at risk. We will shortly be introducing a package of coach safety measures which will include a requirement that seat belts be fitted to those high risk seats in all new coaches registered from 1 October 1988. That should encourage their voluntary use. We have no present plans to make wearing a legal requirement.