§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what data his Department collects on passenger injuries resulting from impacts to the rear of vehicles;
(2) what plans he has to introduce rear impact safety tests for vehicles;
(3) what representations he has received about the safety of rear-facing children's seats in cars.
§ Mr. KeyThe Department has two main sources for the collection of accident and injury data—the "STATS 19 Road Accident Report" which forms the basis of the Department's annual publication "Road Accidents Great Britain" and an ongoing co-operative crash injury study sponsored jointly by the Department and certain vehicle manufacturers. Details of injuries resulting from rear impacts are included as a matter of course in both. In addition the Department has recently set up a two-year study to investigate the long-term effect of whiplash injuries.
The Department is currently carrying out research into the possibility of developing a test procedure to simulate rear-end accidents which offers the prospect of a reduction in casualties.
We have not received any representations specifically about the safety of rear-facing child seats. Such restraints are the safest way of transporting very young children although their use on the front seat of a vehicle fitted with a passenger air bag is inadvisable.