HC Deb 28 July 1988 vol 138 cc593-4W
Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current front seat belt wearing rate; and what were the figures for each month since January 1983.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The latest survey for which results are available is October 1987. The table shows the seat belt wearing rates for front-seat drivers and passengers for each survey since January 1983:

Counting month Percentage wearing rates
Drivers Passengers
1983
January 53 54
February 93 93
March 94 95
April 95 95
May 95 95
June 94 95
July 94 95
August 95 96
September 95 96
October 95 94
November 94 96
December 95 96
1984
January 95 96
February 95 95
March 95 96
April 95 96
May 95 95
June 95 96
August 94 95
October 94 96
December 95 96
1985
February 95 96
April 93 94
June 94 95
August 94 95
October 93 94
December 94 95
1986
April 94 94
October 94 94
1987
April 94 95
October 94 94

These rates are thought to be the highest in the world.

Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received supporting the introduction of the compulsory wearing of rear seat belts by adults; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what is his Department's policy on the wearing of rear seat belts by adults; and if he will make a statement;

(3) if he has any plans to review the operation of section 33A of the Road Traffic Act 1972; and if he will make a statement;

(4) what estimate his Department has of the effect on the rate of road accidents fatalities in the United Kingdom in 12 months if the wearing of rear seat belts were made compulsory; and if he will make a statement;

(5) what evidence is available to his Department on the level and trend of voluntary use of rear seat belts either in the United Kingdom or abroad; and if he will make a statement;

(6) how much he expects to spend during the years 1988 and 1989, respectively, in campaigns to encourage the voluntary wearing of rear seat belts;

(7) what research his Department is currently undertaking on the effects of the compulsory wearing of front seat belts; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Seat belts save lives. The transport and road research laboratory and independent experts agree that the wearing of front seat belts saves at least 200 lives and prevents 7,000 serious injuries each year.

We continue to monitor the usage and effects of front-seat belt wearing. The usage rate remains high at 95 per cent. This autumn we shall undertake a survey of seat belt use among rear-seat occupants.

We have not received any recent representations supporting the introduction of compulsory wearing of rear-seat belts by adults, although responses to our road safety consultation paper "The Next Steps" generally supported the view that this should remain a goal for the longer term. Our current aim is to increase the voluntary use of rear restraints and their voluntary fitting in cars which do not already have them. We estimate that the wearing of rear-seat belts by adults could reduce deaths and serious injuries among rear seat adult passengers by at least 50 per cent.

All new cars registered from April last year must be fitted with rear restraints. That should encourage their use. It will take some years before most cars are fitted with them. We therefore believe that it would be premature at this stage to consider making rear-seat belt wearing by adults compulsory.

We will continue to take every opportunity to advise people to use seat belts. Over the next year some 27 million leaflets will be distributed with all vehicle excise licence reminders.