§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the safety of seat belts designed for car application being fitted to coaches; and what estimate he has made of the prevalence of such practices in the United Kingdom. [10238]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonProvided that seat belts are approved to recognised standards and installed correctly, those approved for use on cars may be safely used on other types of vehicle. No information is available on how many coach owners or operators have chosen to fit car seat belts in their vehicles.
§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessments he has made of the safety aspects of loop-around seat belts not requiring fixed anchorage to seating. [10237]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonLoop type seat belts can offer the same level of protection as a seat belt bolted to a fixed anchorage if they are approved to a recognised standard and properly fitted. Such belts should be secured to a part of a seat or the vehicle structure which is strong enough to take a high accident loading, has no sharp edges and positions the belt so that it can be worn properly.