To wish that I/you/we could DO something?

[RibenaFiend]

I drive around a lot of areas for work. I see a lot of things in other drivers that make me go but NOTHING angers me more than seeing a child not wearing a seat belt.

Yes, I know it's the law that seat belts must be worn if they are fitted and yes I know that it's the law that children under 12 or under 135cm must use a correct car seat.

So WHY in the last two weeks have I seen children climbing around back seats when the driver is safely wearing their seat belt? WHY have I seen a child sat on a booster seat with absolutely no restraint on? HOW is is possible that I have seen a front seat passenger wearing a seatbelt with a baby TUCKED IN to their restraint?

Why does this concern me? Well yes, it's absolutely none of my business that these adults are behaving irresponsibly. Clearly the £500 fine is not a deterrent or being enforced. These children are being put at risk and why? If you can't afford a car seat then for the love of god please make sure your child is seated in the very least with a restraint on. If you're an adult and don't wear a seat belt then that's your decision and good luck to you, I hope you're fine but children do not have that ability to make that decision.

I fully appreciate that I am probably in for a "mind your own business" flaming but I would like to know if it is just me who is upset by this? I wish there was a number that could be called (hands free of course ) to report these people unnecessarily endangering these children.

[Sirzy]

I hate seeing it too. I just don't understand why people would risk not having their child in the appropriate restraint.

I did raise it with school once after seeing pre-school children being driven home with no car seat.

[BlackeyedSusan]

perhaps they ought to bring back some of those adverts from the 70's. (the ones without js.)

[cherhorowitz]

I don't understand the mentality of not being safe on the road. I know a lot of people think it'll never happen to them but there are so many minor and major accidents every day that statistically it probably will be you one day.

[colleysmill]

There are some exceptions - historic vehicles for example children over 3 can ride unrestrained in the back if there are no seatbelts. But in vehicles where there are belts available (so normal cars) I wouldn't risk it.

[Beastofburden]

Agree it is totally maddening to see people courting danger pointlessly when there are so many unavoidable bad things in life.

[Tee2072]

There is a number. 999 or 101. It is illegal after all.

[Onesleeptillwembley]

See it constantly here.

[Dahlen]

I don't get it either. It's surprising how little speed is required to send an unrestrained toddler through a windscreen.

[RibenaFiend]

Tee I appreciate that there is 101 (I wouldn't use 999 unless it was an immediate life or death situation) but I don't believe that number is appropriate for this when all that's going to happen is my name is taken, the details of the other car and I sincerely believe that no action will be taken... I don't know but I can't believe that a driver can be reprimanded on the word of a person on the phone.

I agree that perhaps an advertising campaign with an "if you see the law being flouted then call this number" may be the way forward... OR traffic enforcement officers actually enforcing this law!

[Tee2072]

'Hello, this is Ribena. I am traveling west on the M223344 and there is a car registration a;lskdfja;sldfj in front of me where the children are not properly restrained. They are, in fact, bouncing around the car.'

Why is that a waste of time? They could very well send a car to find that car and follow and/or pull over.

Is it better to do nothing and for a child to die?

[dufflefluffle]

There is a number. 999 or 101. It is illegal after all.

I did this - had to make a full report, police man rang woman (and gave her my name) - who turned out to be mildly looney (well there was a reason her supposedly dear child was bobbing around unrestrained in the back of her car) and rang me to whine at me as to why I had done this to her (I didn't and still don't know her), I was so shocked I hung up - she kept ringing me so I withdrew my statement. I'm sorry now that I didn't have the wherewithal to tell her why I had done it but I was so shocked at her contacting me that I panicked. Damn police for giving out my name though!

[CaptainCapybara]

It makes me mad too, I saw a child in the backseat of a car at the supermarket earlier who was not much bigger than my 2 year old sat with just the adult seatbelt round her, no sign of a carseat anywhere. I judged those parents.

[Andro]

What Tee2072 said. I have in fact had DH call for this very reason (I was driving) when we saw an unrestrained child scrambling around the back seat on the motorway.

The car was pulled over 20 minutes later.

[IfYouLoveSomebodyLetThemSleep]

It makes me so mad! It also worries me when adults don't wear them, I'm sure when you crash that if you are not restrained then you're just going to fly round the car hitting everyone else. Does anyone know if this is true?

[Nadienoo]

I don't drive, but we sometimes get a taxi if it is raining or have a lot of shopping... As a result we don't have booster seats... There is a really nice taxi driver I use who actually stores two booster seats in his boot for people with children to use... My sister says that I am really lucky I found him cos not many cab companies offer this...

Another thing I hate when out shopping is mums with babies loading there buggies into black taxis- Think they're called Hackney Carriages, don't know if its illegal, but it cant be right can it? Just seems so unsafe to me...

[picnicbasketcase]

at the police giving out name of people who report others - absolutely disgraceful

[Tee2072]

Yes it is legal to put a pram into the back of a black cab. You don't need a car seat in any sort of taxi.

[RibenaFiend]

I appreciate that taxis and other forms of privately hired vehicle are exempt form certain aspects of the law regarding seat belts and child seats.

I'm referring to the Ford on the school run, the Mini popping into town or the Land Rover collecting from a friend's. The short journeys. Those drivers who may not be in their vehicles for the 20 minutes that the motorway drivers are... It saddens and scares me and I think that I will call 101 the next time that this happens because it actually bothers me that much. I also sincerely hope that the police do not give out my personal contact details to one of these people

[Delilahlilah]

Yanbu. This makes me very angry. There is a girl that lives near me,her ds is almost 5, and ever since he was 2 he has been seen standing in the middle between the front seats of her truck, or bouncing around in the front of her horse box. I cannot believe her stupidity.... and she has just qualified as a primary teacher, so you would expect awareness of child safety to feature, surely? I wouldn't want to trust her with my child.