CHILD CAR SEATS

Safe driving is always at the top of the agenda on Drivers World and just recently a new law came onto the statute books which all those who drive should be aware of.

On the 18^th of September it became compulsory for all children under the age of twelve or under 4ft 5ins (1.35metres) in height to be properly protected with appropriate child seats or harnesses when travelling in a car.

 It is one of the biggest changes in in-car safety laws in twenty years or more, in fact since compulsory safety belts were introduced. The change has been found necessary to try and reduce the number of children killed or seriously injured each year when involved in accidents whilst a passenger in a car.
In 2004 there were 7696 children under the age of twelve involved in accidents whilst riding in a car, of which 24 were killed and 395 were seriously injured, mostly for the want of proper protection in the form of a suitable child car seat.
Adult seat belts are not fit for purpose when it is a child that has to be protected. They are either fitted too high and cut across the neck resulting in serious neck injuries when involved in an accident, or simply just fit across the child’s lap causing whiplash. According to research carried out it is believed that a child is 90% more likely to survive a crash if sitting in a properly fitted child car seat.
This being the case it would indeed be foolhardy of any responsible driver to ignore the results of such research and allow children to be carried in any car without the proper protection of a child car seat. The problem is which seat to fit?

 Here Drivers World clarifies the requirements so that you can protect your children properly.

•  Babies up to the age of approximately 15 months should be placed in rear-facing baby seats away from active air bags and ideally on the back seat.
   

•  Children aged under two can only travel in a European Union safety approved child car seat which should be selected based upon the child’s weight.
   

•  Children aged between 3 & 4 should be in an approved forward facing seat ideally in the back of the car.
   

•  Children aged between 4 & 6 should be on an appropriate booster cushion, again ideally on the back seat.
   

• Children aged between 6 & 11 and under 4ft 5ins (1.35metres) in height should use an appropriate sized booster cushion and still be preferably in the rear seat.
   

•  Children over 12 or taller than the specified height should wear an adult seat belt where fitted whether in the front or rear seat, preferably in the rear.

 There are fines of up to £500 for disregarding this new law and ignorance of the law is no defence, so be warned. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that all children under the age of 14 are properly restrained and protected. Over that age they are regarded in the eyes of this law as being adults and consequently have their own legal responsibility to wear seat belts. There is also a £30 on-the-spot penalty for failure to comply with any of these new requirements.

 There are exceptions to the rules, one of which is where a car is fitted with two child seats, but there are three children being carried. They are also exempt when being carried in taxis, or on short emergency trips.

 Child car seats can cost anything from £20 to £250 depending upon what category your child falls into and suitable items can be found in the Drivers World ‘Drive Thru’ where you will undoubtedly find them at prices below those on the High Street.

 So have a look around and see what is available to keep your kids safe.

 Drive Safely.

 It's a Drivers World.