HC Deb 11 December 1996 vol 287 cc249-50W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many drivers have been prosecuted for allowing a child aged under 14 years to travel in a vehicle without wearing a seat belt or legal restraint in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8226]

Sir John Wheeler

The number of persons proceeded against for carrying a child aged under 14 years without a seat belt are set out in the list:

  • 1991: 55
  • 1992: 55
  • 1993: 69
  • 1994: 87
  • 1995: 99.

Computerisation of penalties other than prosecutions commenced late 1995. For the period 20 October 1995 to 7 October 1996 a total of 35,016 "advice and warnings" were given and 2,211 fixed penalty notices issued for various seat belt offences.

Operation Road Safe has been running since March 1995 and included in its priorities is the wearing of seat belts in vehicles.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate how many(a) drivers, (b) front-seat passengers and (c) back-seat passengers have been (i) killed and (ii) injured as a result of not wearing a seat belt in a vehicle in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8228]

Mr. Moss

The information requested is set out in the following table:

Drivers Front-seat passengers Back-seat passengers
Year Killed Injured Killed Injured Killed Injured
1991 14 165 5 95 8 214
1992 10 231 4 124 4 222
1993 10 252 2 138 3 503
1994 10 137 1 84 9 447
1995 6 148 3 109 7 390

These figures exclude fatalities and casualties where seat belt usage is not known.

The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, in conjunction with the National Safety Council in Ireland, and with private sector sponsorship, launched a seat belt campaign on 14 October 1996 covering both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

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