§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what is his Department's current estimate of the percentage of children aged(a) 0 to 4, (b) 5 to 13 and (c) 14 years and over who wear seat belts in (i) the front passenger seat and (ii) the rear seats of cars; and if he will make a statement on trends; [48310]
(2) what is his Department's current estimate of the percentage of (a) drivers, (b) front seat passengers and (c) rear seat passengers who wear seat belts in cars. [48309]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe latest, as yet unpublished, biannual survey, carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) on the Department's behalf in April 1998, showed that 91 per cent. of drivers, 92 per cent. of front seat passengers and 67 per cent. of all rear seat passengers in all cars were wearing seat belts.
The wearing rates for the front passenger seat cannot be broken down by the age groups requested. The surveys showed that of those travelling in the front passenger seat, 95 per cent. of 0 to 13 year olds and 88 per cent. of 14 to 29 year olds were wearing seat belts.
The survey also showed that of those travelling in the rear seats of cars, 87 per cent. of 0 to 4 year olds, 73 per cent. of 5 to 13 year olds and 48 per cent of 14 year olds and over were wearing seat belts.
The Government are not satisfied with the numbers of people who do not wear their seat belts. The percentage rates of seat belt wearing have remained fairly constant in recent years—in particular, the rate for adults in the rear 335W seats of cars has remained stubbornly at 50 per cent. or below. That is why a publicity campaign to further promote rear seat belt wearing will be launched on 8 July.