Neighbour opposite not using a booster seat

[StayIt]

What do I do? Is this a mind my own business or do I report it? And if so, to who? The boy is only primary aged and isn't particularly tall, I believe one is needed. He is sat in the front seat of his dad's car too, but I'm not sure what the rules are on positions in cars if there is one?

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@MrsKingfisher ever heard of safeguarding. Minding your own business can have disastrous outcomes for many children[/quote]

We're talking about someone who 'thinks' a neighbours child needs a booster seat. 🙄

I've noticed today.

So you have seen this happen once? And wonder whether to report on that basis?

Unless you were actually standing next to the car when the child got in, I can't see how you can be so certain that there wasn't a booster seat.

Since when did being concerned for a chil's safety make someone a busybody? What an attitude to have that it's their kid and nothing to do with me if an innocent kid gets seriously injured or killed because I ignored the issue.

Schools round our way liaise with police when there are safety concerns with drivers around the school. It's usually parking or speeding at school drop off and pick up time. I don't see why they couldn't raise the ussue of car seats as a safety issue for their pupils if they were informed of the problem. If as one person has said loads of parents aren't following their legal (and moral) obligation to protect their children it should be reported.

@Seeline you've made your point. I'm sorry if my concern over the safety of a child is offensive. I'm not trying to get them into trouble. I was standing upstairs and they were parked outside my house. I could see in. The two front seats were level.

Seems the MN attitude is that there are too many kids, so the odd one going through the windscreen or killed/disabled due to a seat belt ripping through it doesn't matter too much.

The playground 'dont snitch' matters above all.

So you need to get a pole 135cm high and stealthily plant it in the neighbour's garden under the cover of darkness, in the morning you hide in your front garden bush with binoculars and a telescopic lens and photograph the child next to stealthily planted pole to verify if they are 135cm or not.

Or you get a life. Either works.

Aren't booster seats only allowed for taller/heavier children?

It's your attitude of busybody @MrsKingfisher that concerns me. Safeguarding is everybody's business and if you have a concern it needs to be raised, it could be one more piece of a puzzle that put together highlights a problem.

@CoffeeWithCheese thanks for the idea. I'll get my tape measure out ready for tonight's stealth "135" operation.

OP - don't you wonder sometimes how some people must be complete arseholes in real life judging by how they are on here?!
I sould speak to the school. There's no excuse for being lax with car seats. If people need reminded, schools are well placed to do it. Putting it on Community support officers radar is a good idea too, if they routinely visit the school.
Road safety is hugely important. The MYOB brigade are likely the same ones who would say MYOB at other safeguarding issues. Child seats are there for a reason.

School could not only advise parents but also include information as to where they can currently be obtained. I would have known immediately in normal times but not now, and most people would probably consider a shop selling these to be closed as 'non-essential'.

You can see looking at a child, where the seatbelt lies on them. To be effective it should lie across the shoulder. The booster seat raises them up so that the seat belt can work effectively. The consequences for a child with a seatbelt across their neck are grim.

I don’t know who you’d report it to. But this isn’t a parents right to choose.

I also thought that even if a young child is very tall so hits 135cm very early on, they are still better in a car seat as their bones are still developing so better to have the additional protection

@ineedaholidaynow

I also thought that even if a young child is very tall so hits 135cm very early on, they are still better in a car seat as their bones are still developing so better to have the additional protection

Thats only a decision you can make for your own child or passenger in your car. There is no age restriction in law. The UK size limit is low compared to neighbouring countries,but you can't force people to follow higher standards (ERF, harnesses as long as possible, HBB or booster cushions until 12/150cm etc).