§ Lord Janner of Braunstoneasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they accept the findings of a Japanese survey (published in the Lancet 2002 359:43–44) that 80 per cent of deaths of drivers and front seat passengers would be avoided if all back seat passengers wore seat belts. [HL2754]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)The Japanese research clearly demonstrates the inherent dangers of not wearing seat belts. It concludes that 80 per cent of front seat occupant deaths, in the accidents that were investigated, could have been avoided if a rear seat passenger had been wearing a seat belt. These findings are based on the situation in Japan where wearing rates are different from Great Britain.
165WAAs explained in an oral Answer on 24 January [Official Report, col. 217], we are currently seeking information to estimate the number of front seat occupants injured in Great Britain as the result of being hit by an unbelted rear seat passenger.